Fabrication and microstructure of Fe3Al matrix composite reinforced by carbon nanotube

Dense Fe3Al/CNT composite with CNT content of 5 vol.% has been fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) that retains the integrity of CNT in the matrix. Samples were synthesized at pressure of 30 MPa, and temperature of 1273 K. Their structures were studies using X-ray diffraction; transmission electron microscope (TEM). The composites have very promising mechanical properties: microhardness of 8.7 GPa and compressive yield strength of 3175 MPa, about 95% and 56% increment over monolithic Fe3Al which was fabricated under the same process. It is indicated that CNTs are regarded as an effective nanoscale reinforcement for the intermetallics matrix composites. This makes the composite an attractive advanced material for future applications.