Boron nitride nanotube aluminum composites and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeThe Florida International University Board of Trustees
InventorsArvind Agarwal, Cheng Zhang, Tanaji Paul, Sohail Mazher Ali Khan Mohammed, Denny John
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Abstract
Methods for large-scale additive manufacturing of high-strength boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT)/aluminum (Al) (e.g., reinforced Al alloy) metal matrix composites (MMCs) (BNNT/Al MMCs), as well as the BNNT/Al MMCs produced by the large-scale additive manufacturing methods, are provided. A combination of ultrasonication and spray drying techniques can produce good BNNT/Al alloy feedstock powders, which can be used in a cold spraying process.
Claims10
A method for fabricating a boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT)/aluminum (Al) metal matrix composite (MMC), the method comprising:
- preparing a BNNT-Al powder in which BNNTs are dispersed in a first powder comprising Al;
- and
- performing a cold spraying process with the BNNT-Al powder as a feedstock to fabricate the BNNT/Al MMC,
- the preparing of the BNNT-Al powder comprising dispersing BNNTs in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to give a BNNT-IPA solution free of Al, adding the first powder comprising Al to the BNNT-IPA solution to give a first mixture, performing tip sonication on the first mixture to give an intermediate mixture, and performing a drying process on the intermediate mixture to give the BNNT-Al powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.