INTERFACIAL INTERACTION STUDY BETWEEN CARBON NANOTUBE AND ALUMINUM SURFACES

• Main Author: Dwi Aditya, Irfan
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/42298
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The development of advanced technologies in many sectors requires high performance materials, such as materials that have good mechanical properties but lightweight. The limitation of availabilty of metals and alloys that have good mechanical properties i.e. high strength and stiffness but lightweight, has led the development of metal matrix composites (MMCs). The MMCs are expected to have properties that combine their component properties: strength and ductility from the metal matrix and strength and stiffness from the reinforcement filler. Until now, however, there is no satisfactory result in developing materials that have good mechanical properties but lightweight, except for CNT-metal composite materials, which is reported as potential materials. But, it is known that to unite CNT with metal is very difficult. One important aspect in combining CNT and metal is the interfacial interaction between the CNT and metal. This dissertation concerns with CNT-based MMCs, ie CNT-Aluminum (CNT-Al) composite. The aim is to elucidate the nature of the interaction between CNT and Al. This interaction is responsible in combining CNT and metal (Al). It is also known that Titanium (Ti) is an alloy element that enhances the interfacial bonding between metal and CNT. Therefore in this dissertation, the influence of interstitial and substitutional titanium (Ti) atom on Al(111) surface is also investigated. Our results show that Al(111) is the most stable surface among other Al surfaces. It has been found that the structures of CNT did not drastically change after it is adsorbed on the Al(111) and Al(111)-Ti interstitial surfaces. It was also found that the adhesive energy of CNT-Al(111) was low. However, the presence of titanium atoms can strengthen the interfacial interaction between CNT and Al(111) surface, as indicated by the increase in magnitude of adhesive energy from the interaction between CNT and the Al(111) surface. On the other hand, for Al(111)-Ti substitution surface, the structure of the CNT changes. It is shown by the opening of CNTs that leads to geometrical transform, ie into an arch-like structure. This phenomena shows that the Al(111)-Ti subs surface has a catalytic effect and the activation energy for dissociation of C-C bonds is very small. This catalytic effect significantly increases the strength of interfacial interaction between CNT and aluminum surface. The strong interfacial interaction between CNT with the substitution of Ti atom and Al(111) surface correlates with high adhesive energy between CNT and Al surface. This strong interfacial interaction opens an opportunity to design CNT-Al composite with expected properties: good mechanical properties and lightweight. This dissertation has been successfully explained the interaction mechanism between CNT and Aluminum.