Hot Extruded Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites and its Microstructure, Mechanical and Corrosion Properties

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced magnesium (Mg) matrix composite rod was successfully fabricated by mechanical ball milling followed by hot extrusion processes. CNTs used were multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The starting Mg chips were ball-milled under argon atmosphere for 3 h to coat the surface of Mg chips with the pretreated MWCNTs. The CNT-coated Mg chips were then mixed with aluminum (Al) powder at the compositions of Mg-6 wt.% Al-x wt.% CNT (x = 0.5, 1, 2 and 4). The mixture was cold compacted and finally hot extruded.