The Influence of Dispersion Time On The Mechanical Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Nickel-Aluminium Matrix Composites

Abstract Nickel (Ni) and aluminium (Al) powders were milled with carbon nanotubes (CNT) by employing the high-speed ball milling approach, and the consolidation was achieved by spark plasma sintering technology (SPS). The microstructural evolution of the milled samples and consolidated samples were examined, and the mechanical properties were investigated. The outcome indicated the agglomeration of CNT within the NiAl matrix, and the CNT dispersions improved with the milling duration. The structural integrity of the CNT was evaluated using the Raman analysis which depicted that the ID/IG ratio decreased from 0.986 to 0.867 as the high-speed ball milling was longer, which also depicts more damage to the CNT. The microhardness of the consolidated composite was enhanced from 287.7 HV-320.4 HV due to better dispersion of CNT within the matrix metal. Furthermore, the predicted tensile strength and yield strength of the composite improved from 4011.9 MPa-4428.8 MPa, and from 5747.9 MPa-6389.3 MPa.