TY - JOUR
T1 - Unraveling the dispersion mechanism of carbon nanotubes in aluminum powder particles during high energy ball milling by FIB-TEM study
AU - Cao, Lin
AU - Chen, Biao
AU - Wan, Jie
AU - Shen, Jianghua
AU - Li, Shufeng
AU - Liu, Shuiqing
AU - Li, Jinshan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2023/4/1
Y1 - 2023/4/1
N2 - For the development of high-performance aluminum (Al) matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), high energy ball milling (HEBM) is the most prevalent method to disperse CNTs in Al powder. However, the dispersion mechanism of CNTs in Al powder is still unclear, mainly because it is difficult to characterize CNTs when they are buried inside Al powder particles. Herein, focused-ion-beam-assisted transmission electron microscopy observation of CNTs in Al powder via HEBM with various milling times was conducted. Results showed that with increasing HEBM time, CNTs clusters were firstly broken up to be dispersed shorter-lengthed CNTs on the surface of Al flakes with gradually reduced thickness. Afterward, cold-welding of Al flakes was the predominant phenomenon, which resulted in re-spheroidization of Al powders and homogeneously dispersed CNTs. This study may provide guidance for controlling and optimizing the HEBM process to disperse CNTs in Al matrix towards the development of high-performance CNTs/Al composites.
AB - For the development of high-performance aluminum (Al) matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), high energy ball milling (HEBM) is the most prevalent method to disperse CNTs in Al powder. However, the dispersion mechanism of CNTs in Al powder is still unclear, mainly because it is difficult to characterize CNTs when they are buried inside Al powder particles. Herein, focused-ion-beam-assisted transmission electron microscopy observation of CNTs in Al powder via HEBM with various milling times was conducted. Results showed that with increasing HEBM time, CNTs clusters were firstly broken up to be dispersed shorter-lengthed CNTs on the surface of Al flakes with gradually reduced thickness. Afterward, cold-welding of Al flakes was the predominant phenomenon, which resulted in re-spheroidization of Al powders and homogeneously dispersed CNTs. This study may provide guidance for controlling and optimizing the HEBM process to disperse CNTs in Al matrix towards the development of high-performance CNTs/Al composites.
KW - Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs)
KW - Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
KW - Cold welding process
KW - Dispersion mechanism
KW - High energy ball milling (HEBM)
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85148045006
U2 - 10.1016/j.powtec.2023.118339
DO - 10.1016/j.powtec.2023.118339
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:85148045006
SN - 0032-5910
VL - 419
JO - Powder Technology
JF - Powder Technology
M1 - 118339
ER -