The effect of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of a Cu/CNT nanocomposite prepared via a powder metallurgy method

Metal matrix nanocomposites have become popular in industrial applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), since theirs appearance, with their unique properties such as exceptionally small diameters and high Young's modulus, tensile strength and high chemical stability, are considered to be an attractive reinforcement material for lightweight and high-strength metallic matrix composites. The powder metallurgy method allows nanocomposite materials, notably metal-ceramic composites, to be produced by sintering a mixture of powders. In this study, we have utilized the powder metallurgy method to fabricate a Cu/CNT nanocomposite. Sintering is the important process in this method; it is the process whereby powder compacts are heated so that adjacent particles fuse together. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of the Cu/CNT nanocomposite. The sintering temperature was in the range of 850-950 °C for 2 h. A correlation between the microstructure and mechanical properties, including the microstructure, density, hardness and compressive strength, is established. In this process, the density, and the physical and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, can be changed, depending on the rate of sintering as well as the sintering temperature. © 2011 Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology.