Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes reinforced Al-Si-Cu brazing powder

In this paper, an approach to synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced Al-Si-Cu brazing powder was studied, which was accomplished by in-situ growth of the CNTs on the Al-Si-Cu powder at a relatively low temperature by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The synthesis parameters were optimized. The component of brazing powder was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure and dispersity of as-grown CNTs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The graphitization and defects were characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The as-grown CNTs on Al-Si-Cu powder disperse uniformly and have moderate length and density, meanwhile its sp² structure dominates minor quantity of amorphous carbons and defected carbon structures.