Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Novel Aluminum Foams Synergistically Reinforced by NiO Particles and In Situ Grown Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Novel aluminum (Al) foams synergistically reinforced by NiO particles and in situ grown carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been fabricated in this work via the combination of ball milling, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and space-holder techniques. In the Al foams (CNT/NiO/Al), pores with controllable size and morphology were formed with carbamide particles as space-holders, and NiO particles were uniformly distributed in the Al matrix and played the role of dispersion strengthening. Meanwhile, NiO particles can also provide Ni catalysts to induce the formation of CNTs in situ in the pores of Al foams, and the CNTs were interwoven into a network, forming the strong bonding with Al matrix and providing the effective support and reinforcement to the pore wall. The results showed that, the compressive yield strength of the CNT/NiO/Al composite foams was approximately 79.5% and 21.1% higher than that of pure Al foams and NiO/Al composite foams, respectively. And the energy absorption capacity of the CNT/NiO/Al composite foams was also significantly enhanced. The improved mechanical properties were due to the good dispersion and structural-integrity of CNTs in the Al matrix, as well as the good dispersion strengthening of NiO particles.