Fabrication of aluminum-carbon nanotube composites and their electrical properties

Aluminum-carbon nanotube (CNT) composites were fabricated by hot-pressing the respective powders. The microstructural characteristics and the distribution of carbon nanotubes in the aluminum matrix were investigated. The electrical resistivities of the composites were measured fr om room temperature down to 4.2 K. The electrical resistivity at room temperature increases slightly with increasing volume fraction of the carbon nanotubes in the aluminum. From room temperature to similar to 80 K all the composites exhibit the typical metallic decrease or the electrical resistivity upon lowering the temperature. Ar about 80 K their resistivities abruptly drop by more than 90%: at lower temperatures the resistivity does not show any fluctuation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.