Production of MWCNT-Reinforced Aluminum Foams Via Powder Space-Holder Technique and Investigation of their Mechanical Properties

Abstract

In this study, aluminum foams reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% by weight) were produced by powder metallurgy method using different proportions of spherical urea (15%, 30%, and 50% by weight) as space holder. It analyzes the pore morphology and pore distribution of the produced composite foams and examines their mechanical properties under qua-static compressive loading. The results show that the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes existing in the cell wall on pore morphology and pore distribution was insignificant. The highest hardness value (65 HV) was determined in the foam samples containing 2% multi-walled carbon nanotube produced with 15% urea. Composite aluminum foam samples with 30–69% porosity and 0.84–1.90 g cm−3 density were successfully produced. The compression properties of the samples decreased with the decrease in the relative densities.