Effects of carbon nanotube addition on the microstructures, martensitic transformation, and internal friction of Cu-Al-Ni shape-memory alloys

Abstract

In this study, we analyze the influences of carbon nanotube (CNT) addition on the martensite transformation and internal friction of Cu-Al-Ni shape-memory alloys (SMAs). X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry results demonstrate that Cu-13.5Al-4Ni-xCNT (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt%) SMA/CNT composites exhibit a [Formula: see text] martensitic transformation. The martensitic transformation temperatures and transformation enthalpies of the martensitic transformation peaks for the Cu-13.5Al-4Ni-xCNT (x = 0-0.8 wt%) composites gradually decrease with the increase in the amount of CNT addition. Compared to the Cu-13.5Al-4Ni SMA, the Cu-13.5Al-4Ni-xCNT (x = 0.2-0.8 wt%) SMA/CNT composites exhibit significant improvements in the amount of dissipation of energy (storage modulus ([Formula: see text] and mechanical strength. However, the tan δ of the internal friction peak gradually decreases with the increase in the CNT content above 0.6 wt%. The reduction in tan δ is attributed to the decrease in the magnitude of the austenite-to-martensite transformation and precipitation of γ₂ (Cu₉Al₄) phase particles, which impede the interface motion in between the parent/martensitic phase and martensitic phase.