Development of vapour-grown carbon nano-fibre-reinforced aluminium matrix composites by low-pressure infiltration process

Abstract

This study was aimed for development of vapour-grown carbon nano-fibre(VGCNF)-reinforced aluminium matrix composites by the low-pressure infiltration process. First, VGCNF and Al powder (VGCNF + Alp) preforms for low-pressure infiltration were fabricated by spark sintering process at pressures of 5, 10, 20 and 40 MPa, respectively. Porosity of the preforms fabricated at pressures of 5 and 10 MPa was 44·89 and 40·87%, respectively. However, porosity of the preforms fabricated by spark sintering at pressures of 20 and 40 MPa was approximately 20%. Therefore, VGCNF + Al_p/Al composites with the preform sintered at pressures of 5 and 10 MPa were fabricated by the low-pressure infiltration process under an applied pressure of 0·4 MPa, and the relative density was 81·4 and 76·0%, respectively. Moreover, the microstructure, porosity and electrical conductivity of the VGCNF + Al_p/Al composites were estimated. Their electrical conductivities reduced with increasing porosity of VGCNF + Al_p/Al composites.

Keywords:

• Vapour-grown carbon nano-fibre
• Aluminium matrix composite
• Low-pressure infiltration
• Electrical conductivity
• Microstructure