Strengthening effect of Ti3C2Tx in copper matrix composites prepared by molecular-level and high-shear mixings and SPS

MXene (Ti3C2Tx) reinforced copper matrix composites with weight fractions of MXene from 1 to 4 wt.% were fabricated based on molecular-level and high-shear mixings and spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The mechanical properties of the composites with different weight fractions of MXene were studied, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to track the state of MXene in the composite preparation process. Chemical state and interface transitions would result in an interesting ductile-brittle transition phenomenon of the composite. The Vickers hardness and compressive strength of the composites prepared by the molecular-level mixing and high-shear mixing methods have been improved (the maxima are 44.9% and 41.8%, respectively), where the addition of 1wt.% MXene results in a tensile strength increase of 29.9%. The results show that molecular-level mixing and high-shear mixing methods are hopeful to be applied to produce many kinds of MXene composites.