Carbon nanotubes reinforced copper composite with uniform CNT distribution and high yield of fabrication

Abstract

Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in metal matrix composites has been an unsolved issue since the discovery of CNTs. This paper presents a newly developed fabrication process of bulk Cu/CNT composite with uniformly distributed CNTs. That is, copper encapsulated CNTs powders were firstly fabricated by an electrochemical deposition where CNTs can be completely dispersed in the copper electrolyte assisted by sonication, and then the fabricated composite powders were used to make bulk Cu/CNT composite by a powder metallurgy process. The increment in microhardness of Cu/CNT composite after compaction and sintering was observed to be ~47.6% per 1% CNTs. The developed fabrication process of Cu/CNT composite powders by electrochemical co-deposition can be scaled up to meet specific application needs, and a similar process is expected to be applicable for other metals.