Electrical Characterization of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Silver and Copper Composites for Switching Contacts

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced silver and copper metal matrix composites—at three different reinforcement phase concentrations (0.5 wt.%, 0.75 1 wt.%)—were produced via powder metallurgy sintered hot uniaxial pressing. Optical electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the mixtures composites. The latter also electrically characterized load-dependent electrical contact resistance (ECR) surface fatigue tests. Particle size morphology play a crucial role in CNT deposition onto metallic powder. deposited exceptionally well dendritic regardless of its larger (compared with flakes) due higher area caused by grooves edges structures. addition matrices improved their performance, general outperforming reference material. Higher consistently low ECR values. In addition, high (i.e., wt.%) show exceptional repeatability elastic restitutive properties CNT. reproducibility was further evaluated tests, where composites showed lower than material, rapidly reaching steady-state within 20 cycles analyzed.