Dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aluminum improves radiation resistance

Abstract

We can mass-produce metal/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites that show improved radiation tolerance. The 0.5 wt% Al+CNT composite showed improved tensile strength without reduction of tensile ductility before radiation, and reduced void/pore generation and radiation embrittlement at high displacements per atom (DPA). Under helium ion irradiation up to 72 DPA, the 1D carbon nanostructures survive, while sp(2) bonded graphene transforms to spa tetrahedral amorphous carbon. Self-ion (Al) irradiation converts CNTs to a metastable form of Al4C3, but still as slender 1D nanorods with prolific internal interfaces that catalyze recombination of radiation defects, reducing radiation hardening and porosity generation. The 1D fillers may also form percolating paths of "nano-chimneys" that outgas the accumulated helium and other fission gases, providing an essential solution to the gas accumulation problem

Metal-nanotube composites as radiation resistant materials

“…He bubbles form preferentially at certain defective spots, such as dislocations, 13 interfaces, and nanoparticles. 14 As mentioned above, the He outgassing was already reported, 4,5 but no specific mechanism was proposed to explain the dynamics. Here we focus our attention on the development of a detailed model for this phenomenon, which in addition is supported by molecular dynamics (MD) computations.…”

“…Metal þ CNT composites might provide plenty of incoherent interfaces that could trap He. In fact, Al þ CNT composites have recently been synthesized and shown, in experiments by Li and co-workers, 4 to lead to bubble-free matrices.…”

First-principles study on the helium migration energies in B12X2(X=O, Si, P, As) crystals for neutron absorber use

“…Meanwhile, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attracting increasing attention due to their excellent abilities to catalyze the recombination of radiationinduced defects and create exhaust paths for helium and other fission gases in their aluminum composites [10]. Therefore, the CNTs are worth investigating further to see if they have an inhibiting effect on the swelling of the B 4 C pellet by efficiently capturing and exhausting the helium gas produced from the 10 B(n, α) 7 Li reaction.…”

Graphene damage effects on radiation-resistance and configuration of copper–graphene nanocomposite under irradiation: A molecular dynamics study

“…Nanostructured metals and composites provide a path for the design of radiation tolerant materials because they contain interfaces that can attract, absorb and annihilate point and line defects1234567. Graphene is well known to be a very flexible and strongest nanomaterial89.…”