Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Fe-matrix composite with carbon nanotubes

Ushakova L.M, Sementsov Yu. I, Kartel M.T, Makhno S.M

Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
E-mail: milushakova@gmail.com

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are a promising material for strengthening different materials. However, obtaining a homogeneous distribution of CNT in the matrix of the expected material is one of the possible problems.
The main purpose of this work is to obtain metal-matrix composites, where the matrix is iron, and the structure-forming component is CNT. The samples were prepared by mixing carbonyl iron with a dispersion of MWCNT in isopropyl alcohol. The samples were then dried at a temperature of 800 C to constant weight. The resulting samples were heated to a temperature of 15500 C under flux and cooled in a furnace.
Samples for the study were used at concentrations of 1%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% CNT.
In the [1] showed that in such composites iron is observed in three phases: austenite γ-Fe, ferrite α-Fe and cementite θ-Fe3C.
By X-ray diffraction, it was shown that at a concentration of 1% CNT in iron and in the short-term heating of samples, traces of iron carbide were detected, and at an concentration of 10%, an excess of carbon nanotubes was formed, and 1% Fe3C, 4% Fe3O4 and 3% Fe2O3 were fixed .
Thus, obtaining a nanocomposite with an iron matrix and carbon nanomaterials is a promising area of modern material science.

1.	Shpak A.P., Kolesnik S.P., Mogilny G.S., Petrov Yu.N., Sokhatsky V.P., Trophimova L.N., Shanina B.D., Gavriljuk V.G. Structure and magnetic properties of iron nanowires encased in multiwalled carbon nanotubes // Acta Materialia. - 2007.-55(5),-P. 1769-1778.