Patent DE-102009018762-A1 (DE)
Title: Manufacturing a metallic composite material with embedded carbon nanotubes, comprises directing an energy beam to a surface to be constructed, on which a wire-like first starting material made of metal and carbon nanotubes is provided
Inventor: BRANDL ERHARD
IPC: C22C47/08
Filed: 2009-04-27
Abstract: The method for manufacturing a metallic composite material (1) with embedded carbon nanotubes (10), comprises directing an energy beam (6) to a surface (5) to be constructed, on which a wire-like first starting material (4) made of metal and carbon nanotubes is provided, where a molten region is produced from the first starting material on the surface to be constructed with the energy beam, and guiding the energy beam over the surface to be constructed in a defined manner, where a layer of the metallic composite material is produced with embedded carbon nanotubes. The method for manufacturing a metallic composite material (1) with embedded carbon nanotubes (10), comprises directing an energy beam (6) to a surface (5) to be constructed, on which a wire-like first starting material (4) made of metal and carbon nanotubes is provided, where a molten region is produced from the first starting material on the surface to be constructed with the energy beam, and guiding the energy beam over the surface to be constructed in a defined manner, where a layer of the metallic composite material is produced with embedded carbon nanotubes. The wire-like first starting material has a metal sheath, which covers a metal core and carbon nanotubes. For the production of the wire-like first starting material, a mixture of metal powder and carbon nanotubes is introduced in a metal tube and then the tube is chiplessly formed under the reduction of the cross-section of the tube. For the production of the wire-like first starting material, carbon nanotubes are introduced into the metal tube and then heated above the melting temperature of the metal tube, where the carbon nanotubes are embedded into the metal tube. For the production of the wire-like first starting material, the mixture of metal powder and carbon nanotubes is introduced on a metal substrate and thermally treated, so that the metal powder and the carbon nanotubes are fixed bonded with the metal substrate. A second metallic starting material is introduced on the surface to be constructed instead of first starting material, is free from carbon nanotubes and is provided in the form of wire or powder. The first and second metallic starting materials are introduced on the surface to be constructed, so that the molded body is constructed with first regions having embedded carbon nanotubes and second regions that are free from carbon nanotubes. The process is repeated to layer-wise construct a structural component made of metallic composite material with embedded carbon nanotubes. The energy beam and the first starting material are guided in a defined manner, so that the structural component is produced with net-shape measurements. The surface to be constructed is a surface of a metallic semi-finished product, where a layer made of metal and carbon nanotubes is produced on the surface for local reinforcement of the semi-finished product. The energy beam is laser beams, electron beams or light arc. A chemical exothermic reaction is used for melting the first starting material and/or the second starting material. The first starting material and/or the second starting material are capacitively, ohmically or inductively heated. The solidification and cooling of the melted first starting material and/or the second starting material occur under protective gas or in vacuum. The metallic composite material with embedded carbon nanotubes is subjected to a retroactive heat treatment.