Mechanical properties and microstructure characterization of well-dispersed carbon nanotubes reinforced copper matrix composites

Copper (Cu) matrix composites reinforced with 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 vol% multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were processed by ultrasonication and high-energy attritor milling of pure copper powder with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), followed by spark plasma sintering and annealing. Microstructural characterization shows that the CNTs are well-dispersed in Cu-0.5 vol% CNTs composite, and the aggregation of CNTs increases with the increase in the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes. Raman spectroscopy results indicate that there is an increase in the number of defects in the nanotube after milling and sintering of the composite. Mechanical property and strengthening mechanism analysis indicates that the grain size effect, hindering effect of dislocations interacting with the grain boundary, and load transfer effect are the main mechanisms affecting the mechanical properties of composites, and the experimental strength of the composite can be close to 81% of the theoretical strength. •Cu–CNTs composites with varied CNTs contents (0.3–2.0 vol%) were fabricated by the innovation of the fabrication process.•The properties of composites were characterized by various testing methods.•Cu–0.5 vol% CNTs showed significantly well-dispersed, better hardness and tensile strength than other volume fraction CNTs.•Some theoretical formulas were used to analyze the strengthening mechanism in the process of composite preparation.