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2012
Journal Article
Titel
The space race - nanotechnology for metal matrix composites
Abstract
In the past 40 years mans pursuit to create ultra light, high strength composites have been at the forefront of nearly all aerospace & automotive R&D agendas. From the fantastic properties of boron nitride metal composites to the well established and cost effective polymer matrix - all of which have their strengths as well as disadvantages. In this article the evolutions as well as influencing factors have been illustrated in a hope to bring attention to the massive potential of MMC with carbon based nano reinforcing agents within them. The applications are everywhere but the manufacturing methods still need to be optimised to produce economically feasible composites to the mass markets, once this achieved the mind set of the industry may start to look back again to MMC as a replacement to the dominating polymer-carbon fibre composites. Through high energy milling, hot-press sintering with subsequent extrusion Samples of AA6061/CNT alloys was produced. These were tested for both mechanical and thermal properties, with results showing substantial improvement in comparison to the pure reference aluminium alloy.