title: Inter-wall bridging induced peeling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes during tensile failure in aluminum matrix composites.
abstract: In situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of a tensile test was performed to investigate the fracturing behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in powder metallurgy Al matrix composites. A multiple peeling phenomenon during MWCNT fracturing was clearly observed. Its formation mechanism and resultant effect on the composite strength were examined. Through transition electron microscopy characterizations, it was observed that defective structures like inter-wall bridges cross-linked adjacent walls of MWCNTs. This structure was helpful to improve the inter-wall bonding conditions, leading to the effective load transfer between walls and resultant peeling behaviors of MWCNTs. These results might provide new understandings of the fracturing mechanisms of carbon nanotube reinforcements for designing high-performance nanocomposites.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: chen-b@jwri.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Shufeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.affiliation: Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.affiliation: Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondoh
keywords: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs); Composites; Fracture; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs); Peeling