Fabrication, microstructures, and properties of copper matrix composites reinforced by molybdenum-coated carbon nanotubes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated by a molybdenum layer using carbonyl thermal decomposition process with a precursor of molybdenum hexacarbonyl. The Mo-coated CNTs (Mo-CNTs) were added into copper powders to fabricate Mo-CNT/Cu composites by means of mechanical milling followed by spark plasma sintering. The Mo-CNTs were uniform dispersion in the Cu matrix when their contents were 2.5 vol.%-7.5 vol.%, while some Mo-CNT clusters were clearly observed at additions of 10.0 vol.%-15.0 vol.% Mo-CNTs in the mixture. The mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the Mo-CNT/Cu composites were characterized, and the results showed that the tensile strength and hardness were 2.0 and 2.2 times higher than those of CNT-frce specimens, respectively. Moreover, the Mo-CNT/Cu composites exhibited an enhanced thermal conductivity but inferior electrical conductivity compared with sintered pure Cu. The uncoated CNT/Cu composites were fabricated by the similar processes, and the measured tensile strength, hardness, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity of the CNT/Cu composites were lower than those of the Mo-CNT/Cu composites.