Enhancing mechanical properties of pure copper-based materials with CrxOy nanoparticles and CNT hybrid reinforcement

Pure Cu matrix composite reinforced by CrxOy-CNT hybrid was prepared via powder metallurgy in the present work. Microstructural analysis revealed that the formation of Cu2O nanoparticles at the interface is contributed to the interfacial bonding. The CrxOy-CNT/Cu composite of 1.0 vol% hybrid reinforcement exhibited excellent ultimate strength of 402.6 MPa, which was similar to 90.0% higher than that of unreinforced Cu (211.9 MPa). Meanwhile, the ultimate strength of the hybrid reinforcement was much higher than those of the separate components, which were 238.4 MPa of 1.0 vol% CNT/Cu composite and 339.1 MPa of 1.0 vol% CrxOy/Cu composite, respectively. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis indicated that Orowan looping system contributed the most to strength in CrxOy/Cu and CrxOy-CNT/Cu composites, whereas load transfer then contributed the most strength for CNT/Cu composite.

Automated summary

In this study, a pure Cu matrix composite reinforced by CrxCyOy-CNT hybrid was prepared via powder metallurgy. Microstructural analysis showed that the formation of Cu2O nanoparticles at the interface contributed to interfacial bonding, and the 1.0 vol% hybrid reinforcement exhibited excellent ultimate strength compared to unreinforced Cu. Quantitative analysis indicated that Orowan looping system played a major role in strength contribution for CrxCyOy/Cu and CrxCyOy-CNT/Cu composites.