Iron nanoparticle surface treatment of carbon nanotubes to increase fatigue strength of steel composites. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chester, Gregory; Skinner, Anna; Villa-Garcia, Anthony; Ziegler, Kirk J.; Hill, Justin J.
• Is Part Of: Nanocomposites. Volume 7:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes -- nanoparticles -- nanocomposite -- fatigue -- metal matrix composite; Nanocomposites (Materials) -- Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1080/20550324.2021.1956730
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-0324

Abstract

Abstract: A simple, scalable, and reproducible method is used to decorate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with metal nanoparticles (NPs). Decorating CNTs with iron NPs prior to forming steel-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) improves the high-cycle fatigue (HCF) strength of the MMC by more than 350% vs. plain 1084 steel and more than 100% vs. an MMC with untreated CNTs. An inverse correlation between CNT loading and tensile strength was observed. The CNT surface treatment uses an organic microenvironment surrounding suspended CNTs and emulsion chemistry to treat individual CNTs or small bundles. This process can be adapted to work with other metal NPs or CNT types. This work demonstrates the potential for metal-treated CNTs to further improve the HCF strength of MMCs and paves a pathway toward additional CNT-reinforced composites. Graphical Abstract: UF0001