Review of Recent Progress in the Development and Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube by Powder Metallurgy Route

Aluminum and its alloys are finding increasing applications in every sphere of industry with various reinforcements. New reinforcements like graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are in focus on account of its contribution in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Achieving uniform distribution and selecting the right manufacturing process still remain a challenge. Hence, this review takes into account the contributions by many researchers and attempts to consolidate the findings that may close the gap and identify the scope for future research. In spite of the advantages of aluminum, it requires improvement in strength, wear resistance, heat resistance, conductivity, and thermal expansion. Among the available reinforcements, CNT stands out because of its unique features of thermal conductivity, expansion, and strength. The effect of multiwalled CNT reinforcement in metal on precipitation hardening is also discussed.