Preparation and elevated temperature compressive properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced Ti composites

Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced Ti matrix composites were synthesized using the heterogeneous coacervation method followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The morphology, phase structure and elevated temperature compressive properties were studied. The CNTs were well dispersed onto the Ti particles, and parts of them were converted into TiC along the interface after SPS due to solid-state reaction. However there were CNTs with original size remaining even in the composites sintered at 1000 °C. The compressive yield strength declined before a slight rise with the increase in sintering temperatures, which indicated that the reinforcements and dense structure played the combined action.