A novel aluminum-carbon nanotubes nanocomposite with doubled strength and preserved electrical conductivity

Shuai Zhang; Gaoqiang Chen; Timing Qu; Jinquan Wei; Yufan Yan; Qu Liu; Mengran Zhou; Gong Zhang; Zhaoxia Zhou; Huan Gao; Dawei Yao; Yuanwang Zhang; Qingyu Shi; Hua Zhang

doi:10.1007/s12274-021-3284-4

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Research Article

A novel aluminum-carbon nanotubes nanocomposite with doubled strength and preserved electrical conductivity

Shuai Zhang^¹, Gaoqiang Chen^¹, Timing Qu^¹, Jinquan Wei^², Yufan Yan^¹, Qu Liu^¹, Mengran Zhou^¹, Gong Zhang^¹, Zhaoxia Zhou^³, Huan Gao^⁴, Dawei Yao^⁴, Yuanwang Zhang^⁴, Qingyu Shi^¹(

), Hua Zhang^⁵

1State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology Ministry of Education of China, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

2Key Lab for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Education Ministry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

3Loughborough materials characterization center, Department of materials, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK

4State Key Laboratory of Special Cable Technology, Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200093, China

5School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China

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Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Enhancing the mechanical strength of highly conductive pure metals usually causes significant reduction in their electrical conductivity. For example, introducing phase/matrix interfaces or more grain boundaries, are common and effective methods to strengthen metals. But it simultaneously increases the electron scattering at the interface, thus reducing the electrical conductivity. In this study, we demonstrate that pure aluminum (Al)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites prepared by friction stir processing have successfully broken through these limitations. The yield strength and tensile strength of Al/CNTs nanocomposites have improved by 104.7% and 51.8% compared to pure Al, while the electrical conductivity remained comparable to that of pure Al. To explore the potential mechanisms, the interface between CNTs and Al was examined and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Little interfacial reaction compounds were present and no visible physical gaps were observed at CNTs and Al interfaces. We defined it as a clean and tightly bonded interface. Although the quantity of phase interface has increased, the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite remains approximately unchanged. We attribute the preserved electrical conductivity to the clean and tightly bonded CNTs/Al interface in the nanocomposite.

Keywords

carbon nanotubes/aluminum nanocomposites mechanical properties electrical conductivity friction stir processing interface

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Nano Research

Volume 14 Issue 8,
August 2021

Pages 2776-2782

DOI: 10.1007/s12274-021-3284-4

Cite this article:

Zhang S, Chen G, Qu T, et al. A novel aluminum-carbon nanotubes nanocomposite with doubled strength and preserved electrical conductivity. Nano Research, 2021, 14(8): 2776-2782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3284-4

Topics:

Aluminum Aluminum compounds Carbon nanotubes Electron scattering Grain boundaries High resolution transmission electron microscopy Nanocomposites

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Received: 16 July 2020

Revised: 07 September 2020

Accepted: 07 December 2020

Published: 20 January 2021