Microstructure and Properties of CNTs/2A12 Aluminum Matrix Composites Fabricated via Additive Friction Stir...

Carbon nanotubes/2Al2 composites, due to their low density, high specific strength, and high elastic modulus, are representative lightweight structural materials for next-generation aerospace applications. Traditional processing methods are inefficient and have long production cycles, making them unsuitable for the demands of efficient, rapid, and intelligent manufacturing of complex structures. This article proposes the use of metal additive manufacturing technology to solve this problem. For the first time, a 22 mm high carbon nanotube/2Al2 composite was fabricated using additive friction stir deposition, and the changes in surface morphology, microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the as-deposited composite were systematically studied. After additive manufacturing, the composite exhibited a continuous and defect-free, typical onion-like structure. The as-deposited microstructure consists of uniformly equiaxed grains with an average grain size of 1.23 μm to 1.62 μm and uniformly distributed Al₂Cu particles. The tensile strength and elongation of the as-deposited composite in both the transverse and processing directions are no less than 450 MPa and 15%, respectively, superior to those of the base material. After additive manufacturing, the as-deposited composite exhibited a corrosion current density of 0.19 μA cm^-2 in the transverse direction-only 4% of that of the base material. This enhanced corrosion resistance is attributed to the uniform distribution of precipitated phases achieved through additive manufacturing, which suppresses micro-galvanic corrosion, resulting in minimal, uniform corrosion. This study provides a research foundation and technical support for the additive manufacturing of aluminum-based composites.