Improving mechanical properties of near-net-shape aluminum/MWCNT nanocomposites fabricated by plasma spray forming using electroless copper coating of MWCNT

The growing demand for using high-performance materials for industrial sheet parts manufacturing actuated us to fabricate wave-formed sheets nanocomposite. A combination of impregnation method and plasma spray forming (PSF) was used for manufacturing of Al/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sheets nanocomposite. By addition of 5 wt.% MWCNT to pure Al matrix, microhardness increased to 34.5 (VHN) compared to 30 (VHN) for monolithic pure Al. The effect of using coated MWCNT as a reinforcement material was also investigated. Our results showed that applying coated MWCNT not only lead to significant increase of microhardness (50 VHN), but also less defect was generated on the MWCNT sidewalls.