We report a two-step process for the fabrication of copper (Cu) matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In the first step, a homogeneous mixture of copper nanoparticles and CNTs was prepared using the molecular-level-mixing followed by ball milling the mixture using a high energy ball mill. CNTs/Cu composites were fabricated in the second step using the powder metallurgy process in which the composite powders were first cold pressed at 550 MPa and then sintered in the range of 550–900°C for 2 h under a vacuum of 10-2 Torr. Composites fabricated via this method showed significant improvement in mechanical properties over CNTs/Cu composites produced earlier either using only ball milling or molecular-level-mixing. Further, a high dispersion of CNTs in Cu matrix was observed in the present system as revealed by the microstructural analysis of CNTs/Cu composite powder using scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy.
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