Incorporation of AWS 316L wire nanostructured with nickel-carbon nanotube by arc welding

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes have certain properties, such as 150 GPa tensile strength, a 1000 GPa shear modulus, an electrical conductivity of 60 S/m, and a high thermal conductivity of 2500 W/mk, that make them an optimum metallic matrix composite reinforcement. Otherwise, arc welding is a common industrial process that joins almost all metals. However, there are hardly any studies involving the addition of carbon nanotubes in stainless steel so far. In this research, we show the incorporation of an AWS 316L nanostructured wire with nickel-carbon nanotubes in austenitic stainless steel via pulsed gas tungsten arc welding, which formed nanocomposites with 0.75 and 1.5 wt% carbon nanotube contents in the wire. The characterization was performed by scanning electronic microscope, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The Vickers microhardness test was used to analyze the mechanical properties. The nanostructure composite had microstructure modification, and superficial microhardness improved in 35% for 0.75 wt% carbon nanotube.