Al/MWCNT composite layer deposition on Aluminum alloy substrate by Selective Laser Melting and Flame Spray

This study compares two processing routes, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Flame Spray (FS) to fabricate an Al/MWCNT composite layer over an aluminum alloy 6013 (AA6013) substrate. The final surface and cross-sections morphologies were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Optical Microscopy (OM). The effect of these processing routes on the multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). Finally, the mechanical properties were evaluated by Vickers microhardness. The Raman bands corresponding to carbon were identified in the spectrum of both samples processed by SLM and FS. However, in the latter was also identified the Al4C3 formation. The Vickers microhardness results show an increase in the hardness values of the FS and SLM processed coatings of 44% and 9%, respectively, when compared to the AA6013 substrate.