Development of a deposition process of Al/NTC/TiO2 composite over Al alloy substrate through selective laser melting technique

• Grant number: 18/13708-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Dilermando Nagle Travessa
• Grantee: Dilermando Nagle Travessa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Aline Gonçalves Capella ; Rudimar Riva
• Associated research grant(s): 24/07178-4 - 32nd International Materials Research Congress (IMRC2024), AR.EXT

Abstract

This proposal for a Regular Project aims to develop aluminum matrix composites reinforced by carbon nanotubes (NTC), using selective laser melting technique. Al powder and NTC will be used to form a composite layer over a commercial Al alloy, in order to obtain a localized reinforcement effect on the substrate. The NTC will be previously coated by TiO2 nanoparticles via sol-gel technique, in order to develop a thermal barrier for NTC protection during the high-temperature processing cycle. Besides, it is expected that the TiO2 coated NTC be better dispersed into the Al matrix, obtaining an intimate contact with the matrix in the final composite. This proposal is planned to be concluded in three years. Laser melting enables a strict control of the thermal input over a large range. Furthermore, the process setup is very simple and suitable to process small amounts of material in a very short time, resulting in material and time savings. The composite deposition, layer by layer, enables a good control on the film thickness. The production of thicker layers can be used to evaluate the potential of this composite for the manufacture of parts using additive manufacturing concepts. (AU)