Thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube/silicon carbide particle-reinforced magnesium composites fabricated by squeeze infiltration

In this study, hybrid composites of AZ91 Mg alloy reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and silicon carbide particles (SiCps) were successfully fabricated by the squeeze infiltration method. For this fabrication, hybrid preforms of CNTs (5, 10, and 15 vol%) and SiCps (30 vol%) were produced by vacuum suction from slurry mix containing organic and inorganic binders. Hybrid CNT+SiCp/AZ91 Mg composites were fabricated by squeeze infiltration, and the melt infiltrated well between the reinforcements during squeeze infiltration to produce a hybrid MMC with virtually no pores. Their microstructural and thermal expansion properties were evaluated The resulting CNT+SiCp/AZ91 Mg hybrid composites were found to exhibit a significant decrease in their coefficients of thermal expansion with an increase in the CNT volume fraction, owing to the near-zero thermal expansion of the CNTs and the CTE mismatch between them and the AZ91 Mg matrix.