Physical property improvement of iron castings using carbon nanomaterials

1. A method for fabricating iron castings for a metallic component, comprising:

forming a molten solution by melting carbon and iron;

combining carbon nanomaterials with the molten solution, a first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the molten solution;

functionalizing the carbon nanomaterials such that one or more chemical moieties are associated therewith;

cooling the molten solution to solidify at least a portion of the carbon thereof, thereby fabricating the iron castings, the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the iron castings,

wherein the carbon nanomaterials comprise carbon nanotubes having a tubular structure,

wherein the functionalizing comprises subjecting the carbon nanotubes to a surface modification treatment so that said at least portion of the carbon of the molten solution selectively solidifies about a location of the tubular structure based on the one or more chemical moieties associated with the carbon nanomaterials; and

dissolving a second portion of the carbon nanomaterials in the molten solution, the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials having a defect density greater than a defect density of the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials, wherein the greater defect density of the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials is arranged to achieve a lower melting point in the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials compared to a melting point of the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the iron castings,

wherein a temperature of the molten solution is controlled during the fabricating of the iron castings to preferentially dissolve the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials having the greater defect density to increase a concentration of carbon in the molten solution effective to fabricate a respective type of iron casting from a plurality of iron casting types.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanomaterials further comprise buckyballs, fullerenes, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanomaterials increase nucleation sites for the solidification of the at least a portion of the carbon dissolved in the molten solution.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least portion of the carbon of the molten solution solidifies about an end of the tubular structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least portion of the carbon of the molten solution solidifies about a sidewall of the tubular structure.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising varying a concentration of carbon melted in the molten solution.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molten solution is cooled in a mold to fabricate the iron castings, the iron castings having the carbon nanomaterials dispersed therein.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the carbon solidifies on the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the molten solution, thereby forming microstructures of solidified carbon.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising combining an alloying element with the molten solution; and varying a concentration of the alloying element in the molten solution.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the respective type of iron casting is selected from the group consisting of a grey iron casting, a ductile iron casting, and a compacted graphite iron casting.

11. A method for fabricating iron castings for a metallic component, comprising:

forming a molten solution by dissolving carbon in an iron solution,

combining carbon nanomaterials with the molten solution, a first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the molten solution;

functionalizing the carbon nanomaterials such that one or more chemical moieties are associated therewith;

cooling the molten solution to solidify the carbon dissolved in the iron solution, thereby fabricating the iron castings, the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the iron castings,

wherein the carbon nanomaterials comprise carbon nanotubes,

wherein the functionalizing is configured to vary a number of nucleation sites for the solidification of said at least portion of the carbon dissolved in the molten solution based on the one or more chemical moieties associated with the carbon nanomaterials; and

dispersing a second portion of the carbon nanomaterials in the melted iron of the molten solution, the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials having a defect density greater than a defect density of the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials,

wherein the greater defect density of the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials is arranged to achieve a lower melting point in the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials compared to a melting point of the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the iron castings,

wherein a temperature of the molten solution is controlled during the fabricating of the iron castings to preferentially dissolve the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials having the greater defect density to increase a concentration of carbon in the molten solution effective to fabricate a respective type of iron casting from a plurality of iron casting types.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the carbon nanomaterials further comprise buckyballs, fullerenes, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least a portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the iron castings are separate and distinct from the solidified carbon in the iron casting.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes have a tubular structure.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising varying a concentration of carbon dissolved in the iron solution.

16. A method for fabricating iron castings for a metallic component, comprising:

forming a molten solution by melting iron and carbon, and the carbon dissolved in the melted iron;

combining the molten solution with carbon nanomaterials, a first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the molten solution;

functionalizing the carbon nanomaterials such that one or more chemical moieties are associated therewith;

transferring the molten solution to a mold;

cooling the molten solution in the mold to solidify the carbon dissolved in the melted iron to fabricate the iron castings, the iron castings having the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed therein, and at least a portion of the carbon dissolved in the melted iron solidified about the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials,

wherein the carbon nanomaterials comprise carbon nanotubes,

wherein the functionalizing is configured to vary a number of nucleation sites for the solidification of said at least portion of the carbon dissolved in the molten solution based on the one or more chemical moieties associated with the carbon nanomaterials; and

dispersing a second portion of the carbon nanomaterials in the melted iron of the molten solution, the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials having a defect density greater than a defect density of the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials,

wherein the greater defect density of the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials is arranged to achieve a lower melting point in the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials compared to a melting point of the first portion of the carbon nanomaterials dispersed in the iron castings,

wherein a temperature of the molten solution is controlled during the fabricating of the iron castings to preferentially dissolve the second portion of the carbon nanomaterials having the greater defect density to increase a concentration of carbon in the molten solution effective to fabricate a respective type of iron casting from a plurality of iron casting types.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the carbon nanomaterials further comprise buckyballs, fullerenes, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising varying a concentration of carbon dissolved in the melted iron.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a tubular structure and said at least portion of the carbon dissolved in the melted iron solidifies about a sidewall of the tubular structure.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a tubular structure and said at least portion of the carbon dissolved in the melted iron solidifies about an end of the tubular structure.