Equal channel angular pressing of carbon nanotube reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, powder processing and severe plastic deformation (SPD) approaches were combined in order to achieve both full density and good particle-matrix bonding in CNT and Cu powder mixtures without grain growth, which was considered as a bottle neck of the bottom-up method in the conventional powder metallurgy of compaction and sintering. Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), one of the most promising methods in SPD, was used for the powder consolidation. The powder ECAP processing with 1, 2, 4 and 8 passes was conducted at room temperature. It was found by microhardness tests and microstructure characterization that relatively high mechanical strength could be effectively achieved as a result of the well bonded powder contact surface during powder ECAP. The SPD processing of powders is a viable method to achieve both fully density and good particle bonding in CNT-metal matrix nanocomposites.