Nanostructured Al/Al4C3 composites reinforced with graphite or fullerene and manufactured by mechanical milling and spark plasma sintering

► Fullerene mix (C60 + C70 + soot) is effective to manufacture nanostructured Al/Al4C3. ► Carbon in the fullerene mix is more reactive with Al that that present in graphite. ► A complete transformation of carbon into Al4C3 is observed in the Al/fullerene. ► Milling and sintering conditions preserve the nanostructured nature of the composites. ► Hardness improvement: 375% Al/graphite and 582% for Al/fullerene composites.