Surface Heterostructure of Aluminum with Carbon Nanotubes Obtained by Laser-Oriented Deposition

Al is one of the most widely applicable metallic materials due to its advanced properties. However, its main drawback is its strength, which is relatively low compared to ferrous alloys. This issue may be resolved using different approaches. In the present work, a heterostructure of Al substrate with a modified surface with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was studied. This heterostructure was obtained using the laser-oriented deposition technique. The obtained results showed a slight reduction in the reflectivity of the obtained Al substrate with embedded CNTs compared to pure Al. Additionally, the obtained surface heterostructure showed enhancement in microhardness and higher hydrophobicity. Simulation of the CNT embedding process revealed that CNT penetration strongly depends on the diameter. Hence, the penetration increases when the diameter decreases.