Improvement on wettability between carbon nanotubes and Sn.

Several metals (Sn, Cu and Ag) were coated on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by electroless plating to improve the wettability between CNTs and the Sn matrix. The coated CNTs were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results reveal that the metals are decorated effectively on the sidewalls of CNTs. The deposited metals are supposed to serve as the medium for interacting with the melted Sn matrix and achieve high strength interfacial adhesion. It was found that the Ag coated CNTs are wetted to a certain degree by melted Sn and embedded well in the matrix. While in the case of Sn and Cu coated CNTs, fewer CNTs are embedded in the Sn matrix because of desorption or oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]