Nanoparticulate reinforced composites and their application to additively manufactured TI6AL4V for use in the aerospace sector

Metal matrix composites possess good mechanical properties at high temperatures making them good candidates for components that operate in conditions of high temperatures where they have to withstand static creep and cyclic fatigue loads. The mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V including hardness, strength, modulus of elasticity, and wear resistance can be enhanced with nano particulates to obtain lighter and stronger materials that can function at elevated temperatures. This paper starts with a brief background on composite materials and then turns to analysis of carbon nanotubes, titanium carbide, silicon carbide, titanium boride, titanium diboride, and titanium nitride nano particulate materials as candidates for the reinforcement for Ti6Al4V to form composites for aerospace applications. Based on a comparison of their physical properties of melting point, coefficient of thermal expansion, density and mechanical properties of strength, Young's modulus and hardness all obtained from literature, the paper narrows down on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and titanium diboride as the preferred nano composites for this use. Presently, experimental work is under way to determine optimum process parameters for additively built carbon nanotube/Ti6Al4V composites that will be used to build three-dimensional specimens for testing to determine their mechanical properties. This is expected to clarify the value of incorporating the carbon nanotubes in the Ti6Al4V matrix with respect to selected mechanical properties. Future work is envisaged on additively build titanium diboride/Ti6Al4V composites to the same end and in order to determine which of the two nano particles is best in enhancing the mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V.