ABSTRACT
The exciting properties of carbon nanotubes were highlighted in the previous chapter. Developments in nanoscience have made it possible to measure the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the single carbon nanotube. The main challenge is how to utilize these properties for real-life applications. It is critical that nanoscience is integrated with nanomanufacturing for large-scale integration into devices and components. This chapter focuses on the processing methods to fabricate CNT reinforced metal matrix composites. Processing refers to fabrication of the composite resulting in the integration of the reinforcement (CNTs) in the matrix. This is a critical step because it controls the microstructure, which in turn will determine the properties. Normally, carbon nanotubes are obtained in the form of a black powder similar to metallic powders. The powders are made up of lumps, which are made up of entangled CNTs. When looking inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), one can see the CNTs twisted and entangled with each other. In case of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown CNTs, the catalyst particles can be seen in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. The major challenge is to disperse CNTs uniformly in the metal and alloy matrix.
