Microstructure and mechanical properties of CNT/Ag nanocomposites fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Carbon nanotube/silver (CNT/Ag) nanocomposites include CNT volume fraction up to 10?vol.% were prepared by chemical reduction in solution followed by spark plasma sintering. Multiwalled CNTs underwent surface modifications by acid treatments, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data indicated several functional groups loaded on the CNT surface by acid functionalisation. The acid-treated CNTs were sensitised and activated. Silver was deposited on the surface of the activated CNTs by chemical reduction of alkaline silver nitrate solution at room temperature. The microstructures of the prepared CNT/Ag nanocomposite powders were investigated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The results indicated that the produced CNT/Ag nanocomposite powders have coated type morphology. The produced CNT/Ag nanocomposite powders were sintered by spark plasma sintering. It was observed from the microstructure investigations of the sintered materials by HRSEM that the CNTs were distributed in the silver matrix with good homogeneity. The hardness and the tensile properties of the produced CNT/Ag nanocomposites were measured. By increasing the volume fraction of CNTs in the silver matrix, the hardness values increased but the elongation values of the prepared CNT/Ag nanocomposites decreased. In addition, the tensile strength was increased by increasing the CNTs volume fraction up to 7.5?vol.%, but the sample composed of 10?vol.% CNT/Ag was fractured before yielding.