Electrical and Tensile Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced Aluminum Alloy 6101 Wire

Abstract

The wires from aluminum alloy 6101 (AA-6101) used in power cables were covered by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphite powders, and then they were subjected to solubilization heat treatment at a temperature of 550 °C and aged at 180 °C. The effects of the processing temperature on the mechanical and electrical properties of the wires based on CNTs@AA-6101 and graphite@AA-6101 composites were investigated by electron microscopes, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile tests, conductor tests and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that CNTs were successfully incorporated on the surface of aluminum wires; the tensile strength of CNTs@AA-6101 increased by 30% and 34% as compared to graphite@AA-6101 and standard AA-6101 wire without CNTs, respectively. Moreover, the resistivity had a decrease 13.7% less than conventional wires. The solubilization process added with the incorporation of CNTs represents a new way for manufacturing nanostructured power cables to achieve high-performance energy transmission lines.