Reactive processing and properties of nickel aluminide–carbon nanotube composites

This paper for the first time investigates combustion synthesis of 3Ni-Al–carbon nanotube (CNT) powder compacts simultaneously under two modes of ignition (electrically activated reaction synthesis (EARS) and electrically ignited self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (EISHS)), using a novel setup. The resulting phases, microstructure, porosity, and hardness were investigated and discussed. An increase in CNT (0–3 vol.%) content led to an increase in product porosity and microstructural inhomogeneity. This was seen most dramatically in the EISHS mode compared to the EARS. The increased pore content in EISHS regions resulted in lower hardness values. However, in regions of the compact that experienced EARS, an increase in CNT content led to an increase in microhardness, in spite of the higher porosity levels. The latter result highlights the important benefit of adding CNTs to nickel aluminides.