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
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT)/aluminum (Al) metal matrix composite (MMC) (BNNT/Al MMC), comprising:
- BNNTs encapsulated inside of particles of a matrix comprising Al, an average length of all the BNNTs encapsulated inside of the particles of the matrix being about 100 μm;
- BNNT bridges within the matrix;
- and
- BNNT anchors within the matrix.
A boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT)/aluminum (Al) metal matrix composite (MMC) (BNNT/AI MMC), comprising:
- BNNTs encapsulated inside of particles of a matrix comprising Al, an average length of all the BNNTs encapsulated inside of the particles of the matrix being about 100 um;
- BNNT bridges within the matrix;
- and
- BNNT anchors within the matrix,
- the BNNT/AI MMC having a thickness of at least 50 pm,
- the BNNT/AI MMC being fabricated by a 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/AI MMC,
- the cold spraying process being performed such that a temperature of the BNNT-Al powder and a temperature of the BNNT/AI MMC does not exceed 400° C.,
- the preparing of the BNNT-Al powder comprising mixing BNNTs and the first powder to give a first mixture, performing ultrasonication on the first mixture to give an intermediate mixture, optionally adding an optical binder to the intermediate mixture, and performing a drying process on the intermediate mixture to give the BNNT-Al powder, and
- the BNNTs being uniformly dispersed in the first powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.