The Effect of Fullerene Soot Nanoparticles on the Microstructure and Properties of Copper-Based Composites

• Main Authors: Elizaveta V. Bobrynina, Tatiana V. Larionova, Tatiana S. Koltsova, Aleksey I. Shamshurin, Oksana V. Nikiforova, Oleg V. Tolochko, Ji Puguang, Yin Fuxing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: copper matrix composite; fullerene soot; ball milling; microstructure; strengthening
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/10/1929

Copper-based composite materials strengthened with nanosized fullerene soot particles were produced by mechanical milling and hot pressing technology with a content of carbon up to 5 wt. %. The microstructure of the composite powders and the compacts prepared using them were examined by light microscopy, SEM, EDS, XRD, and XPS; hardness, heat conductivity, and tribological characteristics were measured. The interesting feature of the observed microstructure was a “marble” pattern formed by a white boundary net. The study shows homogeneous distribution of carbon inside the copper grains and its lower concentration in the grain boundaries. The effect was caused by a reaction of carbon with oxygen adsorbed by the copper particles surface. The maximal hardness of the material is 160 HB for the sample with 0.5 wt. % of fullerene soot; this material has the minimal friction coefficient (0.12) and wear in a dry friction condition. Heat conductivity of the material (Cu-0.5 wt. % C) is 288 W/m*K.