Formation and heat treatment of kinetic sprayed nanocrystalline Al coatings reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes: The relationship between microstructural features and physical properties

Abstract

Nanocrystalline (nc) Al matrix composites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (1.0 and 3.0 vol.%) were fabricated by mechanical attrition and consolidated using a kinetic spraying process, followed by heat-treatment at a homologous temperature of 0.67 T/T-M for 1-4 h. Microstructural features including thermal stability of the nc structures, the interface between MWCNTs and the Al matrix, and the MWCNT structures of as sprayed and heat-treated MWCNT/nc Al composite coatings were characterized and related to their corresponding mechanical and physical properties. The relationship between microstructural features and properties of the composite coatings was investigated. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.