This study aimed at improving the tribological and thermal properties of Al alloy using CNTs and Nb nanopowder as reinforcements and spark plasma sintering(SPS)as the fabrication method.The SPS was conducted at 630℃,...This study aimed at improving the tribological and thermal properties of Al alloy using CNTs and Nb nanopowder as reinforcements and spark plasma sintering(SPS)as the fabrication method.The SPS was conducted at 630℃,30 MPa,10 min,and 200℃/min.The tribology test was run with ball-on-disc tribometer using steel ball as the counter body.And the thermal test was processed with thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA)and laser flash apparatus(LFA).Results showed that the addition of 8 wt.%CNTs and 8 wt.%Nb reinforcements respectively decreased the coefficient of friction(COF)of the composite by 79%.The wear volume of the composite was decreased by 23%,and so was the wear rate.However,the thermal conductivity of the composite was equally improved by 44%.The tribology improvement was stimulated by a C film generated by CNTs and a protective Nb2O5 formed by Nb nanopowder.The thermal conductivity was improved by the grain refining property of Nb and the high thermal conductivity of CNTs.Therefore,these results indicated that Al-CNTs-Nb composite is a robust material for high transmission conductor capable of reducing sag and ensuring the durability of the composite.展开更多
基金Centre for Energy and Electric Power (CEEP), Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, NRF and DHET for providing financial aid to this project
文摘This study aimed at improving the tribological and thermal properties of Al alloy using CNTs and Nb nanopowder as reinforcements and spark plasma sintering(SPS)as the fabrication method.The SPS was conducted at 630℃,30 MPa,10 min,and 200℃/min.The tribology test was run with ball-on-disc tribometer using steel ball as the counter body.And the thermal test was processed with thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA)and laser flash apparatus(LFA).Results showed that the addition of 8 wt.%CNTs and 8 wt.%Nb reinforcements respectively decreased the coefficient of friction(COF)of the composite by 79%.The wear volume of the composite was decreased by 23%,and so was the wear rate.However,the thermal conductivity of the composite was equally improved by 44%.The tribology improvement was stimulated by a C film generated by CNTs and a protective Nb2O5 formed by Nb nanopowder.The thermal conductivity was improved by the grain refining property of Nb and the high thermal conductivity of CNTs.Therefore,these results indicated that Al-CNTs-Nb composite is a robust material for high transmission conductor capable of reducing sag and ensuring the durability of the composite.
