Extraordinary strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes in metal-matrix nanocomposites processed by molecular-level mixing

Abstract

Carbon-nanotube-reinforeed Cu matrix nanocomposites have been fabricated by molecular-level mixing of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with Cu ions, followed by spark plasma sintering. The compressive strengths and Young's moduli of CNT-reinforced nanocomposites are considerably higher than those of the Cu matrix due to the homogeneously dispersed CNTs embedded in the Cu matrix (see Figure).