Aluminum-CNT Composite Thin Plates for Strength and Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively combine aluminum and carbon nanotubes to enhance mechanical properties and thermal conductivity in a thin plate form suitable for various industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving ball-milling aluminum and carbon nanotube powders, forming a multilayer billet with a core and shell layers, and shaping it into a thin plate through rolling, with specific sintering and rolling conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If aluminum or aluminum alloy is used as heat dissipation material, then it is inexpensive and has excellent mechanical properties, but it has slightly lower thermal conductivity than copper
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material by combining aluminum or aluminum alloy matrix with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcing material. This composite structure allows the material to inherit the excellent mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness of aluminum while gaining the superior thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes, thereby resolving the contradiction between mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.
2Temperature
If heterogeneous composite materials are combined to enhance physical properties, then mechanical properties and thermal conductivity are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-mixing carbon nanotubes with aluminum or aluminum alloy powder through ball-milling before forming the final product. This pre-combination step simplifies the overall manufacturing process by ensuring uniform distribution of CNTs in the aluminum matrix beforehand, avoiding complex subsequent processing steps while achieving the desired composite material properties.
3Weight of moving object
If carbon nanotubes are combined with aluminum matrix to create heterogeneous composite material, then ultra-light weight and high strength are achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical mixing methods with ball-milling technology to combine carbon nanotubes and aluminum powder. This mechanical substitution enables uniform dispersion of CNTs in the aluminum matrix at the particle level, achieving ultra-light weight and high strength composite material while maintaining relative manufacturing simplicity through automated ball-milling processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method allows for high-yield production of a heterogeneous composite material thin plate with enhanced properties, suitable for diverse applications including battery cases, 5G repeaters, and heat exchanger fins.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a composite powder by ball-milling an aluminum or aluminum alloy powder and a carbon nanotube powder
Implementation Method 2
the multilayer billet is subjected to spark plasma sintering under conditions: a temperature in a range of 280° C. to 600° C., a pressure in a range of 30 MPa to 100 MPa
Implementation Method 3
shaping the multilayer billet into a thin plate by rolling
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heterogeneous composite material thin plate and a heterogeneous composite material thin plate manufactured by same, the method comprising the steps of: (a) ball-milling an aluminum or aluminum alloy powder and a carbon nanotube powder so as to prepare a composite powder; (b) preparing a multi-layered billet comprising the composite powder, the multi-layered billet characterized by comprising a core layer and two or more shell layers surrounding the core layer, wherein the core layer is made of the composite powder or an aluminum alloy, the shell layers excluding the outermost shell layer are made of the composite powder, and the outermost shell layer is made of (i) an aluminum or aluminum alloy powder or (ii) the composite powder; and (c) rolling the multi-layered billet so as to form a thin plate shape.