Tensile Strength and Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy Combined with Friction Stir Processing

A route combining powder metallurgy and subsequent friction stir processing was utilized to fabricate carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced Al (CNT/Al) and 6061Al (CNT/6061Al) composites. Microstructural observations indicated that CNTs were uniformly dispersed in the matrix in both CNT/Al and CNT/6061Al composites. Mg and Si elements tended to segregate at CNT Al interfaces in the CNT/6061Al composite during artificial aging treatment. The tensile properties of both the Al and 6061 Al were increased by CNT incorporation. The electrical conductivity of CNT/Al was decreased by CNT addition, while CNT/6061Al exhibited an increase in electrical conductivity due to the Mg and Si segregation.