Feasibility Study on the Fabricating of Carbon-Nanotube-Reinforced Al-Si-Cu Alloy Matrix Composites Using Oxygen-Replacing Die Casting Process

A383 Al-Si-Cu alloy matrix composites were reinforced with different amounts (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt%) of chopped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) fabricated using the oxygen-replacing die casting (ORDC) process to reduce gas porosities via reaction molten Al O2 replaced in mold cavity. MWCNTs added cavity by supplying a poly gate ORDC improve CNT dispersity composite. Microstructure studies showed uniform distribution within grain refinement. X-ray computed tomography images that internal affected addition amount type used mold, Raman spectroscopy analysis indicated CNTs free significant defects. The 1.0 wt% CNT-added composite cast highest ultimate tensile strength 258.5 ± 5.2 MPa hardness 157.9 3.0 Hv; these values were, respectively, 21% 30% higher than those monolithic alloy, confirming feasibility fabricating MWCNT-added process.