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Nanostructured copper-carbon nanotubes composites for aircraft applications

Isabel Graça (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal)
Tomás Seixas (Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal)
Alberto C. Ferro (Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal)
Mafalda Guedes (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Politecnico de Setubal, Setubal, Portugal)

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 12 September 2018

Issue publication date: 13 November 2018

126

Abstract

Purpose

The reliable performance of critical components working under extreme conditions is paramount to the safe operation of aircraft, and material selection is critical. Copper alloys are an obvious choice for such applications whenever a combination of transport, mechanical and tribological properties is required. However, low strength and hardness issues require development of new copper alloys and composites to improve service life and reliability. This study aims to investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes as reinforcement phase in copper-matrix composites.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of novel copper-based composites refined to the nanoscale was envisaged through mechanical milling of mixtures containing copper and carbon nanotubes (2 Wt.%). Milling took place in a planetary ball mill for times varying between 1 h and 16 h at 400 rpm. A ball-to-powder ratio of 20:1 and alumina vial and copper spheres were used under dry conditions or with addition of isopropyl alcohol. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy, size distribution, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to study the produced powders.

Findings

Attained results show that mechanical milling of the studied system produces nanostructured powders containing second-phase carbon nanotubes homogeneously distributed in the metallic matrix, together with severe copper grain refinement. This should correspond to increased residual microstresses, envisaging significant improvement of mechanical properties of the produced copper composites.

Originality/value

The novelty of the work resides in the use of carbon nanotubes for the reinforcement of copper, and on the systematic microstructural characterisation of the produced composites.

Keywords

Citation

Graça, I., Seixas, T., Ferro, A.C. and Guedes, M. (2019), "Nanostructured copper-carbon nanotubes composites for aircraft applications", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 90 No. 7, pp. 1042-1049. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-01-2017-0016

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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