Microstructure and hardness properties of aluminum matrix composites reinforced with iron (iii) oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes

Abstract This study focuses on the effects of iron (iii) oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the microstructure and hardness of aluminum matrix composites (AMCs). Aluminum matrix composites reinforced with iron (iii) oxide nanoparticles and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes having sample formulation of aluminum‐5iron (iii) oxide‐xcarbon nanotubes (Al‐5Fe 3 O 4 ‐xCNT; x = 0 wt.%, 0.01 wt.%, 0.05 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%) were prepared using the powder metallurgy technique. Microstructural characterization revealed that the aluminum‐5iron (iii) oxide exhibited a better microstructure relative to the aluminum‐5iron (iii) oxide‐xcarbon nanotubes counterparts which exhibited a defective microstructure. More so, the hardness results showed that the aluminum‐5iron (iii) oxide exhibited the highest hardness value of 48.32 HRH 60. However, the defective microstructure observed in the aluminum matrix composites reinforced with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes can be attributed to the relatively lower hardness values of the aluminum‐5Iron (iii) oxide‐xcarbon nanotubes samples (22.87 HRH 60‐40.24 HRH 60).