Strengthening Effects of Multi-Walled
Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
Nanoplatelets Reinforced in Nickel
Matrix Nanocomposites
Amit Patil, Mohan Sai Kiran Nartu, and Tushar Borkar
Abstract The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelet
(GNP) reinforced nickel matrix nanocomposites (Ni-GNP) have been processed via
dry ball milling followed by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The CNT and
GNP content in these nanocomposites has been varied from 0.5 to 2 wt/% in order to
study their effect on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of these composites. Ni-CNT/GNP powder is milled for six hours to investigate the effect on the
microstructure, grain size, and the dispersion of CNT/GNP in the nickel matrix. NiCNT/GNP nanocomposites exhibited improvement in microhardness and mechanical performance in comparison with pure nickel. This improvement in Ni-CNT/GNP
nanocomposites is primarily attributed to the uniform dispersion of reinforcement
within the nickel matrix, refined grain size, and strong nickel CNT/GNP interfacial
bonding, which effectively transfers stress during tensile deformation.
Keywords Metal matrix composites (MMCs) · Ball milling · Spark plasma
sintering · Nickel matrix nanocomposites · Carbon nanotubes · Graphene
nanoplatelets
Introduction
Metal matrix composite consisting of a metal matrix reinforced with high strength
ceramic reinforcement is a novel class of material with a very high strength to weight,
making it suitable for numerous functional applications. MMCs can be used at high
temperatures and severe conditions, owing to a combination of metallic properties
such as ductility, toughness, and ceramic properties such as high tensile strength,
high hardness, high melting temperatures, and low coefficient of thermal expansion.
These attractive properties and availability of various processing routes make it a
A. Patil (B) · T. Borkar
Mechanical Engineering Department, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, US
e-mail: amitkpatil.20@gmail.com
M. S. K. Nartu
Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, US
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_7
111
Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
Nanoplatelets Reinforced in Nickel
Matrix Nanocomposites
Amit Patil, Mohan Sai Kiran Nartu, and Tushar Borkar
Abstract The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelet
(GNP) reinforced nickel matrix nanocomposites (Ni-GNP) have been processed via
dry ball milling followed by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The CNT and
GNP content in these nanocomposites has been varied from 0.5 to 2 wt/% in order to
study their effect on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of these composites. Ni-CNT/GNP powder is milled for six hours to investigate the effect on the
microstructure, grain size, and the dispersion of CNT/GNP in the nickel matrix. NiCNT/GNP nanocomposites exhibited improvement in microhardness and mechanical performance in comparison with pure nickel. This improvement in Ni-CNT/GNP
nanocomposites is primarily attributed to the uniform dispersion of reinforcement
within the nickel matrix, refined grain size, and strong nickel CNT/GNP interfacial
bonding, which effectively transfers stress during tensile deformation.
Keywords Metal matrix composites (MMCs) · Ball milling · Spark plasma
sintering · Nickel matrix nanocomposites · Carbon nanotubes · Graphene
nanoplatelets
Introduction
Metal matrix composite consisting of a metal matrix reinforced with high strength
ceramic reinforcement is a novel class of material with a very high strength to weight,
making it suitable for numerous functional applications. MMCs can be used at high
temperatures and severe conditions, owing to a combination of metallic properties
such as ductility, toughness, and ceramic properties such as high tensile strength,
high hardness, high melting temperatures, and low coefficient of thermal expansion.
These attractive properties and availability of various processing routes make it a
A. Patil (B) · T. Borkar
Mechanical Engineering Department, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, US
e-mail: amitkpatil.20@gmail.com
M. S. K. Nartu
Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, US
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_7
111