Tribological Properties and Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Copper Matrix Composites

Carbon nanotube-reinforced copper matrix (CNT/Cu) composites were prepared by a method involving solution-aging treatment, in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The tribological properties of the CNT/Cu composites were greatly improved, and the friction stability was better than that of Cu. These performance improvements were attributed to the uniform distribution of the CNTs without agglomeration and the strong interfacial bonding between the Cu matrix and CNTs. The coefficient of friction was 0.2, which was lower than that of pure copper (0.55), and the wear rate of the CNT/Cu composites was 2 times lower than that of pure copper. The wear mechanism was also discussed from the perspective of the wear morphology and interface structure. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity remained at a high level. The preparation technique is simple and easy to be controlled and can be used to synthesize CNT/Cu composites with excellent tribological properties and electrical conductivity.