Progress in Fabrication Technique of Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Al Matrix Composites

Abstract

The carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials was described, the basic characteristics about carbon nanotubes preparation methods of aluminum matrix composites and preparation process problems and solutions. Finally, the carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum matrix composites in the future research trends was analyzed. 1.The introduction of carbon nanotubes Carbon nanotubes was founded in 1991 by Iijima Japan electron microscopy experts found in experiment (1) and the fifth way that the carbon allotropes (the first four, respectively is graphite, diamond, bucky balls and no qualitative carbon). Carbon nanotubes can be seen as a single layer or multi-layer graphite piece of curly and geometric seamless graphite tube. Each layer of nanotube consists of carbon atoms by sp2 hybrid structure with the surrounding three fully bonded carbon atoms of hexagonal plane of cylinder, pentagons or heptagon combination on both ends closed. So that the pipe produced in the cylinder body corresponding positive and negative bending curvature. Carbon nanotubes because of its unique structure and performance in the nano composite material has good application prospect, theoretical calculation and the results show that carbon nanotubes have high elastic modulus, can reach 1 TPa (modulus of elasticity of 1.2 TPa diamond), even reached 1.8 TPa; Carbon nanotubes is about 100 times the steel intensity, compared with just about one 6 of the density. Carbon nanotubes have excellent plastic deformation, the elastic strain can reach 5%, even up to 12%, which is about 60 times of steel (2-6). 2.Carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum matrix composites Carbon nanotubes aluminum base composite material have low density, high strength, good oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance, etc, become a cutting-edge technology sector development research direction of high performance structural material, has become a hot research at home and abroad in recent years. Although carbon nanotubes aluminium matrix composites is still in trial stage, but has made great progress. Rice. University of Barrera, etc, fullerenes was used as aluminum enhanced phase pure aluminium hardness increased by nearly 80%. Kuzumaki was prepared by hot pressing, hot extrusion process of carbon nano tube of aluminum base composite material, the elongation increased by about 40%. And showed a good chemical stability. Ding Zhipeng the pressureless infiltration method is adopted in the molten metal into the precast block, the preparation of carbon nanotubes/aluminum composite material, found that when the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes is more than 15%, the hardness of the composites with worse instead. Such as the use of hot extrusion of the CNTs/A1 composite material shows good electrical conductivity at low temperature. From the perspective of the properties of carbon nanotubes is excellent, at the moment, carbon nanotubes aluminum base composite material performance wasn't up to the theoretical value, the influence of carbon nanotubes elements of aluminum base composite material performance are also a lot, so the scientific workers needs further research.