Preparation and properties of CNT reinforced Fe–Ni–P composites fabricated by liquid phase sintering

The Fe–Ni–P matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by means of liquid phase sintering at 950∘C. The effects of the mass fraction of CNTs on the microstructures and properties of the composites were investigated. It is noteworthy that the structures of CNTs were hardly damaged during the sintering process via evaluation of microstructures on as-sintered composites. The strength and ductility increased gradually with the increase of CNT content while the saturation magnetization decreased gradually. The sample containing 1 wt.% CNTs showed a good combination of a compression ratio of 60% and a compressive strength of approximately 3800 MPa, which indicated its potential application in modern power generation systems.