| Abstract Scope |
Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides, known as MXenes, are a family of nanomaterials characterized by impressive material behaviors, such as their mechanical stiffness (386 GPa for Nb4C3Tx MXene), electromagnetic shielding capability (up to ~99% shielding efficiency at a 55-nm-thick film for Ti3C2Tx), electrical conductivity (up to 24,000 S/cm for Ti3C2Tx), and hydrophilic surface groups (-40 mV zeta potential in water). Recent studies have demonstrated the formation of scalable self-assembled MXene to Al powder mixtures suitable for mechanical reinforcement (~40% improvement in Vickers hardness for 2 wt% Ti3C2Tx in Al). We have developed a generalized self-assembly process of ~1-nm-thick MXene flakes with a range of different metal powders (e.g., steel, titanium, niobium) using an acidic aqueous solution, with initial measurements showing an ~10% increase in average hardness value. This presentation demonstrates the capability of MXenes for metal composites via a generalized, scalable self-assembly approach tailored to additive manufacturing. |