TY - JOUR
T1 - Carbon-nanotube-length dependent interfacial reaction in aluminum matrix composites and its effect on strengthening
AU - Cao, Lin
AU - Guo, Min
AU - Wan, Jie
AU - Shen, Jianghua
AU - Li, Shufeng
AU - Li, Jinshan
AU - Chen, Biao
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2025/6/5
Y1 - 2025/6/5
N2 - The interfacial reaction is a critical factor affecting the strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in metal matrix composites. In this work, the effects of CNT length on the morphology and formation mechanism of interfacial aluminum carbide (Al4C3) in aluminum (Al) matrix composites were investigated. By observing a vast number of Al4C3 in Al composites which were reinforced with CNTs by different aspect ratios, three kinds of morphologies (skinny, twinned and chunky) were identified. Analyses on intermediate reaction products of these three kinds of Al4C3 revealed that their length increased with the increase of CNT length, but their morphologies had a weak relationship with CNT length. The morphologies were determined by the dispersion state of CNTs, the nucleation sites of Al4C3 and element diffusion modes. Both the two debating mechanisms for Al4C3 formation, viz., carbon-atom-diffusion mechanism and carbon-template-growth mechanism, were confirmed for the rod-shaped skinny and twinned Al4C3, respectively. Chunky Al4C3 shared a similar formation mechanism with twinned Al4C3 while it formed at CNT cluster. The growing process and strengthening effects of the three kinds of interfacial Al4C3 with different lengths were thoroughly discussed. This study may provide guidance to control the interface in nano-carbon-reinforced Al matrix composites for superior properties.
AB - The interfacial reaction is a critical factor affecting the strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in metal matrix composites. In this work, the effects of CNT length on the morphology and formation mechanism of interfacial aluminum carbide (Al4C3) in aluminum (Al) matrix composites were investigated. By observing a vast number of Al4C3 in Al composites which were reinforced with CNTs by different aspect ratios, three kinds of morphologies (skinny, twinned and chunky) were identified. Analyses on intermediate reaction products of these three kinds of Al4C3 revealed that their length increased with the increase of CNT length, but their morphologies had a weak relationship with CNT length. The morphologies were determined by the dispersion state of CNTs, the nucleation sites of Al4C3 and element diffusion modes. Both the two debating mechanisms for Al4C3 formation, viz., carbon-atom-diffusion mechanism and carbon-template-growth mechanism, were confirmed for the rod-shaped skinny and twinned Al4C3, respectively. Chunky Al4C3 shared a similar formation mechanism with twinned Al4C3 while it formed at CNT cluster. The growing process and strengthening effects of the three kinds of interfacial Al4C3 with different lengths were thoroughly discussed. This study may provide guidance to control the interface in nano-carbon-reinforced Al matrix composites for superior properties.
KW - Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
KW - Consolidation
KW - Interface/interphase
KW - Metal matrix composites (MMCs)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003381137&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.carbon.2025.120353
DO - 10.1016/j.carbon.2025.120353
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:105003381137
SN - 0008-6223
VL - 240
JO - Carbon
JF - Carbon
M1 - 120353
ER -