Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced 7055Al Composites Fabricated by High-Energy Ball Milling and Powder Metallurgy Processing

doi:10.11900/0412.1961.2020.00238

Acta Metall Sin

2021, Vol. 57

Issue (1): 71-81 DOI: 10.11900/0412.1961.2020.00238

Research paper

Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced 7055Al Composites Fabricated by High-Energy Ball Milling and Powder Metallurgy Processing

BI Sheng¹^,², LI Zechen³, SUN Haixia³, SONG Baoyong³, LIU Zhenyu¹(

), XIAO Bolv¹, MA Zongyi¹

^1.Shi -Changxu Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
^2.School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang 110016, China
^3.Beijing Institute of Aerospace Systems Engineering, Beijing 100076, China

Cite this article:

BI Sheng, LI Zechen, SUN Haixia, SONG Baoyong, LIU Zhenyu, XIAO Bolv, MA Zongyi. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced 7055Al Composites Fabricated by High-Energy Ball Milling and Powder Metallurgy Processing. Acta Metall Sin, 2021, 57(1): 71-81.

Download:

HTML

PDF(17863KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)

Abstract

In the recent years, lightweight and high-strength structural materials have gained much attention in engineering applications. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced Al (CNT/Al) composites are promising structural materials owing to the good mechanical properties and high reinforcing efficiency of CNTs. Previous studies on these composites mainly focused on fabricating CNT-reinforced low-strength or medium-high-strength Al alloys (such as pure Al, or 2xxx series or 6xxx series Al alloys) composites via various dispersion methods. However, only few studies investigated composites with super-high-strength Al alloys as the matrices. In the present work, CNT/7055Al composites with CNT volume fractions of 0%, 1%, and 3% were prepared by high-energy ball milling combined with powder metallurgy. The CNT distribution, grain structure, interface, and mechanical properties of the CNT/7055Al composite were investigated using OM, SEM, TEM, and tensile tests. The strengthening mechanism and anisotropy of the composite were analyzed. The results indicated that the composite had a bimodal grain structure consisting of CNT-free coarse grain zones and CNT-enriched ultrafine grain zones. CNTs were well dispersed in the ultrafine grain zones of the Al matrix, and the CNT/Al interface was clean. There were only few reaction products at the interface. The tensile strength of the 3%CNT/7055Al composite reached 816 MPa, but the elongation was only 0.5%. Grain refinement and Orowan strengthening were the main strengthening mechanisms of the CNT/7055Al composite. Because of the load transfer efficiency of CNTs and a coarse grain band structure, the composite exhibited stronger anisotropy than the matrix alloy. The tensile properties of the CNT/7055Al composite normal to the extrusion direction were weaker than those in the extrusion direction.

Key words: carbon nanotube (CNT) aluminum matrix composites mechanical property anisotropy high-energy ball milling powder metallurgy

Received: 06 July 2020

ZTFLH:

TG146.2

Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(51931009);National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFB0703104);Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, CAS(QYZDJ-SSW-JSC015);Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(2020197)

	Service

	E-mail this article
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	（）
	Articles by authors
	Sheng BI
	Zechen LI
	Haixia SUN
	Baoyong SONG
	Zhenyu LIU
	Bolv XIAO
	Zongyi MA

URL:

https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/10.11900/0412.1961.2020.00238 OR https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/Y2021/V57/I1/71

Fig.1 SEM images of the as received 7055Al alloy powders (a) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (b)

Fig.2 OM (a, b) and back-scattered SEM (c, d) images of T6 treated 1%CNT/7055Al (a, c) and 3%CNT/7055Al (b, d) composites (The longitudinal direction is the extrusion direction)

Fig.3 TEM images of grain structure (a) and CNT distributions (b) in T6 treated 1%CNT/7055Al composites (The black and white arrows denote CNT and extrusion directions, respectively)

Fig.4 TEM images of grain structures in fine grain zones of T6 treated 1%CNT/7055Al (a) and 3%CNT/7055Al (b) composites

Fig.5 TEM images of the precipitates of T6 treated 1%CNT/7055Al composites in a coarse grain (a) and in a fine grain (b) (The arrows denote precipitates)

Fig.6 Normalized Raman spectra of 3%CNT/7055Al powders milled for 6 h, T6 treated composites, and raw CNT (The D band and G band represent the presence of defects in graphite layers and the highly crystalline graphite, respectively; I_D and I_G represent corresponding peak intensities of D band and G band, respectively)

Fig.7 HRTEM image of interface of CNT and Al in T6 treated 1%CNT/7055Al composites

Table 1 Mechanical properties of the T6 treated CNT/7055Al composites

Fig.8 Mechanical properties of CNT/Al composites with different matrices

Table 2 Mechanical properties of T6 treated 7055Al and 1%CNT/7055Al composites with different loading directions

Fig.9 Low (a, c) and high (b, d) magnified SEM images of fractographs of T6 treated 1%CNT/7055Al composites (The arrows in Figs.9b and d denote CNT)

Table 3 Measurement results of mean spacing (λ_p)

?

and mean radius (r) of precipitate

1	Wang C, Wang B B, Wang D, et al. High-speed friction stir welding of SiC_p/Al-Mg-Si-Cu composite [J]. Acta Metall. Sin. (Engl. Lett.), 2018, 32: 677
2	Ma K, Zhang X X, Wang D, et al. Optimization and simulation of deformation parameters of SiC/2009Al composites [J]. Acta Metall. Sin., 2019, 55: 1329
	马凯, 张星星, 王东等. SiC/2009Al复合材料的变形加工参数的优化仿真研究 [J]. 金属学报, 2019, 55: 1329
3	Ma G N, Wang D, Liu Z Y, et al. Effect of hot pressing temperature on microstructure and tensile properties of SiC/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu composites [J]. Acta Metall. Sin., 2019, 55: 1319
	马国楠, 王东, 刘振宇等. 热压烧结温度对SiC/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu复合材料微观结构与力学性能的影响 [J]. 金属学报, 2019, 55: 1319
4	Zhou L, Cui C, Wang Q Z, et al. Constitutive equation and model validation for a 31 vol.% B₄C_p/6061Al composite during hot compression [J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2018, 34: 1730
5	Li J C, Zhang X X, Geng L. Improving graphene distribution and mechanical properties of GNP/Al composites by cold drawing [J]. Mater. Des., 2018, 144: 159
6	Zheng Z, Zhang X X, Li J C, et al. Achieving homogeneous distribution of high-content graphene in aluminum alloys via high-temperature cumulative shear deformation [J]. Mater. Des., 2020, 193: 108796
7	Qian D, Wagner G J, Liu W K, et al. Mechanics of carbon nanotubes [J]. Appl. Mech. Rev., 2002, 55: 495
8	Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, Wang W G, et al. Effect of carbon nanotube orientation on mechanical properties and thermal expansion coefficient of carbon nanotube-reinforced aluminum matrix composites [J]. Acta Metall. Sin. (Engl. Lett.), 2014, 27: 901
9	Zhao K, Liu Z Y, Xiao B Y, et al. Friction stir welding of carbon nanotubes reinforced Al-Cu-Mg alloy composite plates [J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2017, 33: 1004
10	Yu Z Y, Tan Z Q, Fan G L, et al. Effect of interfacial reaction on Young􀆳s modulus in CNT/Al nanocomposite: A quantitative analysis [J]. Mater. Charact., 2018, 137: 84
11	Esawi A M K, Morsi K, Sayed A, et al. Effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the mechanical properties of CNT-reinforced aluminium composites [J]. Compos. Sci. Technol., 2010, 70: 2237
12	Jafari M, Abbasi M H, Enayati M H, et al. Mechanical properties of nanostructured Al2024-MWCNT composite prepared by optimized mechanical milling and hot pressing methods [J]. Adv. Powder Technol., 2012, 23: 205
13	Jiang L, Li Z Q, Fan G L, et al. The use of flake powder metallurgy to produce carbon nanotube (CNT)/aluminum composites with a homogenous CNT distribution [J]. Carbon, 2012, 50: 1993
14	Yang X D, Zou T C, Shi C S, et al. Effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the properties of in-situ synthesis CNT reinforced Al composites [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2016, A660: 11
15	Nam D H, Cha S I, Lim B K, et al. Synergistic strengthening by load transfer mechanism and grain refinement of CNT/Al-Cu composites [J]. Carbon, 2012, 50: 2417
16	Liu Z Y, Zhao K, Xiao B L, et al. Fabrication of CNT/Al composites with low damage to CNTs by a novel solution-assisted wet mixing combined with powder metallurgy processing [J]. Mater. Des., 2016, 97: 424
17	Zhao K, Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, et al. Origin of insignificant strengthening effect of CNTs in T6-treated CNT/6061Al composites [J]. Acta Metall. Sin. (Engl. Lett.), 2018, 31: 134
18	Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, Wang W G, et al. Analysis of carbon nanotube shortening and composite strengthening in carbon nanotube/aluminum composites fabricated by multi-pass friction stir processing [J]. Carbon, 2014, 69: 264
19	Xu R, Tan Z Q, Xiong D B, et al. Balanced strength and ductility in CNT/Al composites achieved by flake powder metallurgy via shift-speed ball milling [J]. Composites, 2017, 96A: 57
20	Liu X Q, Li C J, Eckert J, et al. Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced Al matrix composites [J]. Mater. Charact., 2017, 133: 122
21	Zhang X X, Zhang J F, Liu Z Y, et al. Microscopic stresses in carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composites determined by in-situ neutron diffraction [J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2020, 54: 58
22	Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, Wang W G, et al. Modelling of carbon nanotube dispersion and strengthening mechanisms in Al matrix composites prepared by high energy ball milling-powder metallurgy method [J]. Composites, 2017, 94A: 189
23	Liu Z Y, Xu S J, Xiao B L, et al. Effect of ball-milling time on mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum matrix composites [J]. Composites, 2012, 43A: 2161
24	Choi H J, Shin J H, Bae D H. The effect of milling conditions on microstructures and mechanical properties of Al/MWCNT composites [J]. Composites, 2012, 43A: 1061
25	Esawi A M K, Morsi K, Sayed A, et al. Fabrication and properties of dispersed carbon nanotube-aluminum composites [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2009, A508: 167
26	Choi H J, Bae D H. Strengthening and toughening of aluminum by single-walled carbon nanotubes [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2011, A528: 2412
27	Liu Z Y, Ma K, Fan G H, et al. Enhancement of the strength-ductility relationship for carbon nanotube/Al-Cu-Mg nanocomposites by material parameter optimisation [J]. Carbon, 2020, 157: 602
28	Chen M L, Fan G L, Tan Z Q, et al. Design of an efficient flake powder metallurgy route to fabricate CNT/6061Al composites [J]. Mater. Des., 2018, 142: 288
29	Xu R, Tan Z Q, Fan G L, et al. High-strength CNT/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu composites with improved ductility achieved by flake powder metallurgy via elemental alloying [J]. Composites, 2018, 111A: 1
30	Choi H, Shin J, Min B, et al. Reinforcing effects of carbon nanotubes in structural aluminum matrix nanocomposites [J]. J. Mater. Res., 2009, 24: 2610
31	Li M J, Ma K K, Jiang L, et al. Synthesis and mechanical behavior of nanostructured Al 5083/n-TiB₂ metal matrix composites [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2016, A656: 241
32	Chen K H, Liu H W, Zhang Z, et al. The improvement of constituent dissolution and mechanical properties of 7055 aluminum alloy by stepped heat treatments [J]. J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2003, 142: 190
33	Williamson G K, Hall W H. X-Ray line broadening from filed aluminium and wolfram [J]. Acta Metall., 1953, 1: 22
34	Zhao Y H, Liao X Z, Jin Z, et al. Microstructures and mechanical properties of ultrafine grained 7075 Al alloy processed by ECAP and their evolutions during annealing [J]. Acta Mater., 2004, 52: 4589
35	Chen B, Shen J, Ye X, et al. Length effect of carbon nanotubes on the strengthening mechanisms in metal matrix composites [J]. Acta Mater., 2017, 140: 317
36	Choi H J, Min B H, Shin J H, et al. Strengthening in nanostructured 2024 aluminum alloy and its composites containing carbon nanotubes [J]. Composites, 2011, 42A: 1438
37	Fan X G, Jiang D M, Meng Q C, et al. The microstructural evolution of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy during homogenization [J]. Mater. Lett., 2006, 60: 1475
38	Ci L J, Ryu Z, Jin-Phillipp N Y, et al. Investigation of the interfacial reaction between multi-walled carbon nanotubes and aluminum [J]. Acta Mater., 2006, 54: 5367
39	Lipecka J, Andrzejczuk M, Lewandowska M, et al. Evaluation of thermal stability of ultrafine grained aluminium matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes [J]. Compos. Sci. Technol., 2011, 71: 1881
40	Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, Wang W G, et al. Elevated temperature tensile properties and thermal expansion of CNT/2009Al composites [J]. Compos. Sci. Technol., 2012, 72: 1826
41	Kim W J, Lee S H. High-temperature deformation behavior of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced aluminum composites and prediction of their high-temperature strength [J]. Composites, 2014, 67A: 308
42	Chen J Z, Zhen L, Yang S J, et al. Investigation of precipitation behavior and related hardening in AA 7055 aluminum alloy [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2009, A500: 34
43	Mondal C, Mishra B, Jena P K, et al. Effect of heat treatment on the behavior of an AA7055 aluminum alloy during ballistic impact [J]. Int. J. Impact Eng., 2011, 38: 745
44	Wang T, Yin Z M, Shen K, et al. Single-aging characteristics of 7055 aluminum alloy [J]. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 2007, 17: 548
45	Hu T, Ma K, Topping T D, et al. Precipitation phenomena in an ultrafine-grained Al alloy [J]. Acta Mater., 2013, 61: 2163
46	Sha G, Yao L, Liao X Z, et al. Segregation of solute elements at grain boundaries in an ultrafine grained Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy [J]. Ultramicroscopy, 2011, 111: 500
47	Dresselhaus M S, Dresselhaus G, Saito R, et al. Raman spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes [J]. Phys. Rep., 2005, 409: 47
48	Yan L P, Tan Z Q, Ji G, et al. A quantitative method to characterize the Al₄C₃-formed interfacial reaction: The case study of MWCNT/Al composites [J]. Mater. Charact., 2016, 112: 213
49	He C, Zhao N, Shi C, et al. An approach to obtaining homogeneously dispersed carbon nanotubes in Al powders for preparing reinforced Al-matrix composites [J]. Adv. Mater., 2007, 19: 1128
50	Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, Wang W G, et al. Tensile strength and electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composites fabricated by powder metallurgy combined with friction stir processing [J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2014, 30: 649
51	Wei H, Li Z Q, Xiong D B, et al. Towards strong and stiff carbon nanotube-reinforced high-strength aluminum alloy composites through a microlaminated architecture design [J]. Scr. Mater., 2014, 75: 30
52	Zhang Z W, Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, et al. High efficiency dispersal and strengthening of graphene reinforced aluminum alloy composites fabricated by powder metallurgy combined with friction stir processing [J]. Carbon, 2018, 135: 215
53	Li S H, Chao C G. Effects of carbon fiber/Al interface on mechanical properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced aluminum-matrix composites [J]. Metall. Mater. Trans., 2004, 35A: 2153
54	Liu Z Y, Wang L H, Zan Y N, et al. Enhancing strengthening efficiency of graphene nano-sheets in aluminum matrix composite by improving interface bonding [J]. Composites, 2020, 199B: 108268
55	Li J C, Zhang X X, Geng L. Effect of heat treatment on interfacial bonding and strengthening efficiency of graphene in GNP/Al composites [J]. Composites, 2019, 121A: 487
56	Ma K K, Wen H M, Hu T, et al. Mechanical behavior and strengthening mechanisms in ultrafine grain precipitation-strengthened aluminum alloy [J]. Acta Mater., 2014, 62: 141
57	Liu Z Y, Xiao B L, Wang W G, et al. Singly dispersed carbon nanotube/aluminum composites fabricated by powder metallurgy combined with friction stir processing [J]. Carbon, 2012, 50: 1843
58	Nardone V C, Prewo K M. On the strength of discontinuous silicon carbide reinforced aluminum composites [J]. Scr. Mater., 1986, 20: 43
59	English A T. Influence of mechanical fibering on anisotropy of strength and ductility [J]. JOM, 1965, 17(4): 395
60	Nasiri-Abarbekoh H, Ekrami A, Ziaei-Moayyed A A, et al. Effects of rolling reduction on mechanical properties anisotropy of commercially pure titanium [J]. Mater. Des., 2012, 34: 268
61	Shaji E M, Kalidindi S R, Doherty R D, et al. Fracture properties of multiphase alloy MP35N [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2003, A349: 313

[1]	ZHENG Liang, ZHANG Qiang, LI Zhou, ZHANG Guoqing. Effects of Oxygen Increasing/Decreasing Processes on Surface Characteristics of Superalloy Powders and Properties of Their Bulk Alloy Counterparts: Powders Storage and Degassing[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(9): 1265-1278.
[2]	ZHANG Leilei, CHEN Jingyang, TANG Xin, XIAO Chengbo, ZHANG Mingjun, YANG Qing. Evolution of Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of K439B Superalloy During Long-Term Aging at 800^oC[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(9): 1253-1264.
[3]	ZHANG Jian, WANG Li, XIE Guang, WANG Dong, SHEN Jian, LU Yuzhang, HUANG Yaqi, LI Yawei. Recent Progress in Research and Development of Nickel-Based Single Crystal Superalloys[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(9): 1109-1124.
[4]	BAI Jiaming, LIU Jiantao, JIA Jian, ZHANG Yiwen. Creep Properties and Solute Atomic Segregation of High-W and High-Ta Type Powder Metallurgy Superalloy[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(9): 1230-1242.
[5]	GONG Shengkai, LIU Yuan, GENG Lilun, RU Yi, ZHAO Wenyue, PEI Yanling, LI Shusuo. Advances in the Regulation and Interfacial Behavior of Coatings/Superalloys[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(9): 1097-1108.
[6]	DING Hua, ZHANG Yu, CAI Minghui, TANG Zhengyou. Research Progress and Prospects of Austenite-Based Fe-Mn-Al-C Lightweight Steels[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(8): 1027-1041.
[7]	CHEN Liqing, LI Xing, ZHAO Yang, WANG Shuai, FENG Yang. Overview of Research and Development of High-Manganese Damping Steel with Integrated Structure and Function[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(8): 1015-1026.
[8]	LI Jingren, XIE Dongsheng, ZHANG Dongdong, XIE Hongbo, PAN Hucheng, REN Yuping, QIN Gaowu. Microstructure Evolution Mechanism of New Low-Alloyed High-Strength Mg-0.2Ce-0.2Ca Alloy During Extrusion[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(8): 1087-1096.
[9]	YUAN Jianghuai, WANG Zhenyu, MA Guanshui, ZHOU Guangxue, CHENG Xiaoying, WANG Aiying. Effect of Phase-Structure Evolution on Mechanical Properties of Cr₂AlC Coating[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(7): 961-968.
[10]	WU Dongjiang, LIU Dehua, ZHANG Ziao, ZHANG Yilun, NIU Fangyong, MA Guangyi. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 2024 Aluminum Alloy Prepared by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(6): 767-776.
[11]	HOU Juan, DAI Binbin, MIN Shiling, LIU Hui, JIANG Menglei, YANG Fan. Influence of Size Design on Microstructure and Properties of 304L Stainless Steel by Selective Laser Melting[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(5): 623-635.
[12]	LIU Manping, XUE Zhoulei, PENG Zhen, CHEN Yulin, DING Lipeng, JIA Zhihong. Effect of Post-Aging on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of an Ultrafine-Grained 6061 Aluminum Alloy[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(5): 657-667.
[13]	ZHANG Dongyang, ZHANG Jun, LI Shujun, REN Dechun, MA Yingjie, YANG Rui. Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Porous Ti55531 Alloy Prepared by Selective Laser Melting[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(5): 647-656.
[14]	XU Lei, TIAN Xiaosheng, WU Jie, LU Zhengguan, YANG Rui. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Inconel 718 Powder Alloy Prepared by Hot Isostatic Pressing[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(5): 693-702.
[15]	LI Shujun, HOU Wentao, HAO Yulin, YANG Rui. Research Progress on the Mechanical Properties of the Biomedical Titanium Alloy Porous Structures Fabricated by 3D Printing Technique[J]. 金属学报, 2023, 59(4): 478-488.

No Suggested Reading articles found!

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed