Simultaneously enhanced electro-mechanical properties of CNTs/Cu-20wt.%Mo composite material by regulating interface with Mo2C nanoparticles

The Mo 2 C@CNTs/Cu-20wt.%Mo composite materials with outstanding mechanical properties and electrical conductivity were prepared via the combination of mechanical wet-mixing, ball-milling and spark plasma sintering technology. By regulating the morphology and content of Mo 2 C decorated on CNTs, the Mo 2 C nanoparticles are anchored on CNTs and well bonded with the matrix, resulting the good interfacial bonding in the composite material. The Cu-20wt.%Mo composite material reinforced by 0.2wt.%Mo 2 C@CNTs exhibits a yield strength of 342.19 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 390.37 MPa, which are respectively increased by 23.13 % and 20.34 % as compared to the Cu-20wt.%Mo. Besides, the electrical conductivity of the 0.2wt.%Mo 2 C@CNTs/Cu-20wt.%Mo composite material is also improved by 6.89 %. Furthermore, the strengthening effect of Mo 2 C@CNTs/Cu-20wt.%Mo composite material can be attributed to the contribution of Mo 2 C nanoparticles, which not only enhance the CNTs load transfer strengthening but also promote the dislocation strengthening and Orowan strengthening.