Application in powder metallurgy of CVD carbon nanofibres: microstructure and mechanical properties CNF reinforced Distaloy AQ

ABSTRACT

Powder metallurgy technique has been extended in automobile industry and other engineering applications. Competitive manufacturing costs have led to important innovations in different fields of powder metallurgy. Recently, research has been focused on reaching higher performance at a lower cost. Carbon nanostructures as carbon nanofibres (CNF) have also entered in the material science as reinforcing composites. In this study, different materials formed by low alloy steel Fe-Ni-Mo powder (Distaloy AQ) with 0.4% of graphite and 0.5% CNFs (carbon nanofibres) synthesised at 723, 773, 823 and 873 K have been studied. All the materials were compacted at 700 MPa and sintered at 1393 K and 90N₂–10H₂ atmosphere. The influence of CNFs synthesis temperature has been analysed for its application in powder metallurgy. The microstructure, mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, hardness, density and wear behaviour were investigated. The CNFs synthesised at 873 K promoted better mechanical properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbon nanofibre
• powder metallurgy
• mechanical characterisation

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Höganäs AB Sweden and Graphit Kropfmühl AG Germany for the supply of powders in this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

N. Candela has contributed towards the study of the mechanical properties and microscopy study of sintered prealloyed powders doped with CVD carbon nanofibres. F. Calvo-Castañera, A. Maroto-Valiente and J. Alvarez-Rodríguez have contributed towards the synthesis by CVD of carbon nanofibres, and the thermal and microstructural characterisation.

Notes on contributors

N. Candela has contributed towards the study of the mechanical properties and microscopy study of sintered prealloyed powders doped with CVD carbon nanofibres. F. Calvo-Castañera, A. Maroto-Valiente and J. Alvarez-Rodríguez have contributed towards the synthesis by CVD of carbon nanofibres, and the thermal and microstructural characterisation.

ORCID

N. Candela http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0568-753X

F. Calvo-Castañera http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4483-2859

A. Maroto-Valiente http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8161-3535

J. Alvarez-Rodríguez http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9899-9999