Sustainable fabrication of Cu/Nb composites with continuous laminated structure to achieve ultrahigh strength and excellent electrical conductivity

Abstract

It is a challenge in practice to cost-effectively fabricate copper matrix composites having high mechanical properties and outstanding electrical conductivity for electric power applications. This report describes a new and simple mass production strategy that was developed to construct Cu/Nb multilayer composites having an ultra-thin continuous laminated structure processed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB). Benefiting from the synergistic contributions from alternating heterogeneous lamellar structures, regular arrays of interfacial dislocations as well as efficient electron transport channels and a low electron scattering structure, the fabricated Cu/Nb multilayer composites exhibit ultrahigh tensile strengths of ~1.2 GPa while retaining their electrical conductivity, thereby negating the general trade-off between strength and electrical conductivity. This study illustrates that interface strengthening is broadly important to improve the strength of multilayer composites. The excellent performance of the Cu/Nb multilayer composites indicates that these composites, having alternating heterogeneous lamellar structures, are promising for future energy and power applications. More significantly, the proposed method provides a potentially novel process for the high-yield production of nanolaminated composites and thereby gives a robust strategy for the development of structural and multifunctional materials.