Fabrication of superaligned carbon nanotubes reinforced copper matrix laminar composite by electrodeposition

Abstract

A new kind of laminar metal matrix nanocomposite (MMC) was fabricated by an electrodeposition process with copper and superaligned carbon nanotubes film (SACNT film). The SACNT film was put on a titanium plate and then a layer of copper was electrodeposited on it. By repeating the above process, the laminar Cu/SACNT composite which contains dozens or hundreds of layers of copper and SACNT films was obtained. The thickness of a single copper layer was controlled by adjusting the process parameter easily and the thinnest layer is less than 2 μm. The microscopic observation shows that the directional alignment structure of SACNT is retained in the composite perfectly. The mechanical and electrical properties testing results show that the tensile and yield strengths of composites are improved obviously compared with those of pure copper, and the high conductivity is retained. This technology is a potential method to make applicable MMC which characterizes high volume fraction and directional alignment of carbon nanotubes.