Inconel Nanotube Composite

Abstract

A metal matrix composite (MMC) material composition of nickel alloy and carbon nanotubes is provided. The material composition includes powdered granules of the nickel alloy; and a plurality of the nanotubes. The granules and nanotubes are milled in a hopper and sintered by laser to form the MMC. A method for producing the MMC material composition is also provided. The method includes inserting powdered granules of the nickel alloy and the nanotubes into a hopper; rotating the hopper at 450 rpm for 120 min to mill the granules and the nanotubes into a mixture; and sintering said mixture by a laser at 195 W and 1100 mm/s scan speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal matrix composite (MMC) material composition of nickel alloy and carbon nanotubes, said material composition comprising:
 powdered granules of the nickel alloy; and   a plurality of the nanotubes, wherein   said granules and the nanotubes are milled in a hopper and sintered by a laser to form the MMC.   
     
     
         2 . The material composition according to claim Herein the nickel alloy is Inconel 625. 
     
     
         3 . The material composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanotubes are multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). 
     
     
         4 . The material composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the MMC is 99.5 wt % of Inconel 625 for the nickel alloy and 0.5 wt % of the nanotubes. 
     
     
         5 . A manufacturing method for producing a metal matrix composite (MMC) material composition of nickel alloy and carbon nanotubes, said method comprising:
 inserting powdered granules of the nickel alloy into a hopper;   inserting the nanotubes into said hopper;   rotating said hopper at 450 rpm for 120 min to mill said granules and the nanotubes into a mixture; and   sintering said mixture by a laser at 195 W and 1100 mm/s scan speed.   
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 5 , further including filtering said granules by an 80 μm sieve prior to insertion into said hopper; 
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 5 , wherein said sintering operation is conducted within an argon (Ar) atmosphere.