The effect of the addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the uniform distribution of TiC nanoparticles in aluminum nanocomposites

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by TiC nanoparticles (with volume fractions of 1.5% and 3%) or a combination of TiC nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated using a combination of ball-milling and sheath-rolling techniques. Hybridization of TiC nanoparticles with a small amount of CNTs (0.7 vol.%) significantly enhanced the distribution of TiC nanoparticles in the matrix, indicating that CNTs can be used as carriers to improve the dispersion of nanoparticles in metal matrix composites. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.