In-situ carbon nanotube-covered silicon carbide particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites fabricated by powder metallurgy

• Novel nano/micro-sized hybrid reinforcement-SiCp(CNT) was explored and synthesized.
• CNT was uniformly covered on the surface of SiCp by chemical vapor deposition.
• SiCp(CNT)/Al composite was prepared by PM with well-dispersed SiCp and CNT.
• The tensile strength of SiCp(CNT)/Al composite was 74% higher than that of Al matrix.

In order to achieve a uniform distribution of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement in aluminum (Al) matrix, novel nano/micro-sized hybrid reinforcements with CNT growing on the surface of SiC particle (SiCp) was synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method. Subsequently, the hybrid reinforcement (defined as SiCp(CNT)) was mixed in the pure Al matrix by merely blending powder, as a result, CNT was well-dispersed in the matrix with the help of micro-sized SiCp as a “vehicle”. With the novel reinforcement, SiCp(CNT)/Al composite exhibited both improved elastic modulus of 93 GPa (35% higher than that of Al matrix) and tensile strength of 202 MPa (74% higher than that of Al matrix), mainly because CNT was dispersed uniformly and achieved intimate interfaces with Al matrix with the help of well dispersed SiCp.