Microstructure and microhardness of copper coated multiwalled carbon nanotube-graphene reinforced aluminium 6061 alloy nanocomposites

Abstract

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene reinforced with Aluminium 6061alloy was synthesized by using powder metallurgy route. MWCNTs were copper (Cu) coated by electroless deposition to increase interfacial bonding between matrix and reinforcement. Aluminium 6061alloy (Al6061) powder was reinforced with 2 wt.% of coated and uncoated MWCNTs with varying Graphene of 0.5 wt.%, & 1 wt.%. High energy ball milling was used to mix the powders followed by compaction and sintering. The samples were characterized using FESEM-EDS and X-ray diffraction technique. Microhardness of the nanocomposites samples was determined. It was found that the hybrid nanocomposites showed accentuated properties than the base alloy. © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.