Progress on CNT/Al Composites

Lian Xue; Kangdi Zhong; Bingbing Wang; Lei Sha; Yuanxiao Dang

doi:10.62177/jaet.v3i2.1290

Authors

Lian Xue School of Aeronautics, Changji University; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Safety Assurance Technology for Low-Altitude Airspace
Kangdi Zhong School of Aeronautics, Changji University; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Safety Assurance Technology for Low-Altitude Airspace; Key Laboratory of Aircraft Design, Manufacture and Maintenance
Bingbing Wang School of Aeronautics, Changji University; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Safety Assurance Technology for Low-Altitude Airspace
Lei Sha School of Aeronautics, Changji University; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Safety Assurance Technology for Low-Altitude Airspace
Yuanxiao Dang School of Aeronautics, Changji University; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Safety Assurance Technology for Low-Altitude Airspace

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/jaet.v3i2.1290

Keywords:

Carbon Nanotube, Aluminum Matrix Composites, Preparation Technology, Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composites have the advantages of light weight and high specific strength, and have broad application prospects in aerospace, automotive lightweight and other fields. In this paper, the preparation process of CNT/Al composites, the surface modification of CNT and the alloying of aluminum matrix are systematically reviewed. The mechanism and research progress of each method are analyzed. The key properties of CNT/Al composites, such as mechanics, thermal expansion, electrical conductivity and wear resistance, are summarized. The development trend and key research directions in this field are prospected.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Liu, J., Khan, U., Coleman, J. et al. (2016). Graphene oxide and graphene nanosheet reinforced aluminium matrix composites: Powder synthesis and prepared composite characteristics. Materials & Design, 94: 87-94. 10.1016/j.matdes.2016.01.031.

Zhang, Z., Xiao, Y., Xu, J. et al. (2022). Understanding the influencing mechanism of CNTs on the microstructure and mechanical properties of semi-solid stir casting Al-Cu-Mg alloys. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 18: 3949-3960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.04.087.

Fang, Z. Z., Paramore, J. D., Sun, P. et al. (2017). Powder metallurgy of titanium – past, present, and future. International Materials Reviews, 63(7): 407-459. 10.1080/09506608.2017.1366003.

Choi, H. J., Shin, J. H., Bae, D. H. (2012). The effect of milling conditions on microstructures and mechanical properties of Al/MWCNT composites. Composites Part a: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 43(7): 1061-1072. 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.02.008.

Singhal, S. K., Pasricha, R., Jangra, M. et al. (2012). Carbon nanotubes: Amino functionalization and its application in the fabrication of Al-matrix composites. Powder Technology, 215-216: 254-263. 10.1016/j.powtec.2011.10.013.

Wu, Y., Kim, G. (2011). Carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite fabricated by semi-solid powder processing. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 211(8): 1341-1347. 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2011.03.007.

Esawi, A. M. K., Morsi, K., Sayed, A. et al. (2010). Effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the mechanical properties of CNT-reinforced aluminium composites. Composites Science and Technology, 70(16): 2237-2241. 10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.05.004.

Liu, Z. Y., Ma, K., Fan, G. H. et al. (2020). Enhancement of the strength-ductility relationship for carbon nanotube/Al–Cu–Mg nanocomposites by material parameter optimisation. Carbon, 157: 602-613. 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.10.080.

Bakshi, S. R., Agarwal, A. (2011). An analysis of the factors affecting strengthening in carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composites. Carbon, 49(2): 533-544. 10.1016/j.carbon.2010.09.054.

George, R., Kashyap, K. T., Rahul, R. et al. (2005). Strengthening in carbon nanotube/aluminium (CNT/Al) composites. Scripta Materialia, 53(10): 1159-1163. 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2005.07.022.

Xu, R., Tan, Z., Xiong, D. et al. (2017). Balanced strength and ductility in CNT/Al composites achieved by flake powder metallurgy via shift-speed ball milling. Composites Part a: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 96: 57-66. 10.1016/j.compositesa.2017.02.017.

Chen, B., Zhou, X. Y., Zhang, B. et al. (2020). Microstructure, tensile properties and deformation behaviors of aluminium metal matrix composites co-reinforced by ex-situ carbon nanotubes and in-situ alumina nanoparticles. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 795: 139930. 10.1016/j.msea.2020.139930.

Chen, X., Huang, G., Liu, S. et al. (2019). Grain refinement and mechanical properties of pure aluminum processed by accumulative extrusion bonding. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 29(3): 437-447. 10.1016/S1003-6326(19)64953-8.

Kwon, H., Park, D. H., Silvain, J. F. et al. (2010). Investigation of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials. Composites Science and Technology, 70(3): 546-550. 10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.11.025.

Yang, X., Shi, C., He, C. et al. (2011). Synthesis of uniformly dispersed carbon nanotube reinforcement in Al powder for preparing reinforced Al composites. Composites Part a: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 42(11): 1833-1839. 10.1016/j.compositesa.2011.08.009.

Zhou, W., Sasaki, S., Kawasaki, A. (2014). Effective control of nanodefects in multiwalled carbon nanotubes by acid treatment. Carbon, 78: 121-129. 10.1016/j.carbon.2014.06.055.

So, K. P., Jeong, J. C., Park, J. G. et al. (2013). SiC formation on carbon nanotube surface for improving wettability with aluminum. Composites Science and Technology, 74: 6-13. 10.1016/j.compscitech.2012.09.014.

Chen, X., Liu, K., Peng, S. et al. (2025). Enhanced mechanical properties of the surface-modified CNTs reinforced 2195 aluminum-based composite. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 922: 147623. 10.1016/j.msea.2024.147623.

Yuan, C., Zhang, Z., Tan, Z. et al. (2021). Enhanced ductility by Mg addition in the CNT/Al-Cu composites via flake powder metallurgy. Materials Today Communications, 26: 101854. 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101854.

Cao, L., Chen, B., Wan, J. et al. (2025). Simultaneously improving strength and ductility of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced aluminum matrix composites by embedding CNTs inside matrix grains. Composites Part B: Engineering, 296: 112240. 10.1016/j.compositesb.2025.112240.

Maniwa, Y., Fujiwara, R., Kira, H. et al. (2001). Thermal expansion of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles: X-ray diffraction studies. Physical Review B, 64(24). 10.1103/physrevb.64.241402.

Deng, C. F., Ma, Y. X., Zhang, P. et al. (2008). Thermal expansion behaviors of aluminum composite reinforced with carbon nanotubes. Materials Letters, 62(15): 2301-2303. 10.1016/j.matlet.2007.11.086.

Zhong, K., Zhou, J., Zhao, C. et al. (2023). Inhibiting of interface thermal cracking with the interlayer nanostructure in fiber aluminum hierarchical composite. Composites Communications, 40: 101599. 10.1016/j.coco.2023.101599.

Choi, H. J., Lee, S. M., Bae, D. H. (2010). Wear characteristic of aluminum-based composites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Wear, 270(1-2): 12-18. 10.1016/j.wear.2010.08.024.

Kim, I., Lee, J., Lee, G. et al. (2009). Friction and wear characteristics of the carbon nanotube–aluminum composites with different manufacturing conditions. Wear, 267(1-4): 593-598. 10.1016/j.wear.2008.12.096.

Liu, Z. Y., Xiao, B. L., Wang, W. G. et al. (2013). Developing high-performance aluminum matrix composites with directionally aligned carbon nanotubes by combining friction stir processing and subsequent rolling. Carbon, 62: 35-42. 10.1016/j.carbon.2013.05.049.

Zuo, G., Bai, Y., Tan, Z. et al. (2024). Temperature effects on solid state bonding joints of ultrafine-grained CNT/Al–Cu–Mg composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 284: 111681. 10.1016/j.compositesb.2024.111681.