Processing of fullerene-reinforced composites

This work has been motivated by the current interest in using fullerenes as a possible reinforcement in structural materials. The fullerenes (of which C₆₀ is the most common) are nanometer in size and have been observed to be stable in contact with various metal systems. Therefore, they offer a nanosize reinforcement that is lightweight and hollow. In this research the emphasis was on processing metals with fullerene additions where the fullerenes were dispersed throughout the metal. Various processing approaches were employed to produce nanocrystalline materials, thin films, and powder-processed composites. Indications are that fullerenes remained unaltered with each processing approach in matrices of tin, copper, and aluminum. A key aspect of the processing of metals containing dispersed fullerenes was the use of fullerene sublimation. Along with the various processing methods identified, the methods of characterizing the fullerenes in the metals were also identified.