Extraordinary Strengthening Effect of Carbon Nanotubes in Metal-Matrix Nanocomposites Processed by Molecular-Level Mixing

摘要

CNT/Cu nanocomposites with homogeneously dispersed CNTs within the Cu matrix can be fabricated by means of a molecular-level mixing process, which consists of mixing Cu ions with functionalized CNTs in a solvent. The yield strength of the CNT/Cu nanocomposite was shown to be three times higher than that of Cu alone. Carbon nanotubes showed the most effective strengthening efficiencies among all reinforcement materials: eight times higher than SiC particles and three times higher than SiC whiskers.