Dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in aluminum powders

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were treated with the reflux within the concentrated nitric acid for 0–25 h to purify and disperse the tangled MWNTs. The effect of reflux time on the morphology and the weight loss of MWNTs were investigated. Meanwhile, the dispersion of MWNTs with 0–2.0 wt.% in 2024Al powders using mechanical stirring with an assisting ultrasonic shaker in ethanol was also studied. The results show that the reflux time markedly affects the morphology of MWNTs. The weight loss of MWNTs increases as the reflux time increases. When the content of MWNTs is less than 1.0 wt.%, MWNTs can uniformly distribute on the surface of 2024Al powders; however, when the content of MWNTs is 2.0 wt.%, MWNTs entangle with each other on the surface of 2024Al powders.