EFFECT OF CARBON NANOTUBES ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NI3AL POLYCRYSTAL

Abstract

In recent years, due to the rapid development of nanotechnology, there has been an increasing demandfor the development of new polycrystalline metal matrix systems for various applications in bothhigh temperature and high pressure environments such as aircraft engines and gas turbines. In thispaper, using molecular dynamics modeling with an embedded atom potential (EAM), we consider theeffectiveness of strengthening the Ni3Al alloy when reinforced with carbon-based materials – carbonnanotubes (CNTs) and fullerenes: single-walled carbon nanotubes of the “zigzag” type under uniaxialtension. It was found that the introduction of a small fraction of CNTs (about 3%) into the Ni3Alpolycrystal leads to a significant increase in the rigidity of the Ni3Al-CNT composites comparedto pure Ni3Al. It is shown that the reinforcement of CNTs under tension works continuously, i.e. theaction extends both in the elastic and in the plastic stage.