Corrosion, mechanical and microstructural properties of aluminum 7075—carbon nanotube nanocomposites for robots in corrosive environments

Abstract

The introduction of in-pipe robots for sewage cleaning provides researchers with new options for pipe inspection, such as leakage, crack, gas, and corrosion detection, which are standard applications common in the current industrial scenario. The question that is frequently overlooked in all these cases is the inherent resistance of the robots to corrosion. The mechanical, microstructural, and corrosion properties of aluminum 7075 incorporated with various weight percentages (0, 0.5wt%, 1wt%, and 1.5wt%) of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are discussed. It is fabricated using a rotational ultrasonication with mechanical stirring (RUMS)-based casting method for improved corrosion resistance without compromising the mechanical properties of the robot. 1wt% CNTs—aluminum nanocomposite shows good corrosion and mechanical properties, meeting the requirements imposed by the sewage environment of the robot.

Keywords

aluminum 7075 / carbon nanotubes / rotational ultrasonication with mechanical stirring / mechanical characterization / microstructure / robot

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