Interfacial Phenomena in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Magnesium Nanocomposite Synthesized by the Sandwich Technique

Carbon nanotube-reinforced metal matrix composites have attracted many researchers due to their high potential applications in engineering. However, this type of nanocomposites presents some difficulties such as dispersion and interfacial interaction between the constituents. In this work, the sandwich technique was used for manufacturing magnesium matrix reinforced with carbon nanotubes in order to understand its interfacial behavior. Electron microscopy techniques were used for characterization, which did not show cluster formation, and the images allow inferring that a strong and good interface between the MWCNTs and the metallic matrix was achieved in the composites. Both amorphous and crystalline interphases were found; additionally, there was no evidence of any chemical reaction between MWCNTs and the matrix. Finally, some strengthening mechanisms, such as grain size, coherent, or semicoherent interfaces, and dislocation stacking, among others, were observed.