Sufficient interfacial contact and adhesion are important factors for ensuring effective load transfer in carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced copper matrix composites (CMCs). In this study, a chemical unzipping method and matrix-alloying (addition of Cr) were integrated to solve these two challenges in CMCs. The results showed that partially-unzipped CNTs (PUCNTs) improved the restricted interfacial contact areas of CNTs. Furthermore, the graphene layers of PUCNTs might improve the interfacial shear strength, and fully utilize the load transfer capacity of the inner walls. Trace amounts of interfacial carbides (Cr₇C₃ or Cr₂₃C₆) were formed in situ at the PUCNTs/CuCr interface, which further improved the interfacial bonding between PUCNTs and the CuCr matrix. The ultimate tensile strength (382.9 MPa) and elongation (37.02%) of the 2 vol% PUCNTs/CuCr composite were higher than similar reported materials. A balance between the strength and ductility of the PUCNTs/CuCr composites was obtained. This was ascribed to the combined effects of the interfacial carbides and interfacial contact area, which improved the load transfer ability and interfacial adhesion, and also promoted dislocation accumulation ability of the PUCNTs. The strengthening effect of PUCNTs was also investigated using the correctional shear-lag strengthening and dislocation strengthening models. This work shows that PUCNTs are better reinforcement fillers than CNTs for enhancing the mechanical properties of CMCs.

足够的界面接触和附着力是确保在碳纳米管（CNT）增强的铜基复合材料（CMC）中有效传递载荷的重要因素。在这项研究中，化学解压缩方法和基体合金化（添加Cr）被集成来解决CMC中的这两个挑战。结果表明，部分解压缩的CNT（PUCNT）改善了CNT的受限界面接触面积。此外，PUCNTs的石墨烯层可提高界面剪切强度，并充分利用内壁的载荷传递能力。原位形成痕量的界面碳化物（Cr ₇ C ₃或Cr ₂₃ C ₆）在PUCNTs / CuCr界面处，这进一步改善了PUCNT与CuCr基体之间的界面结合。2％（体积）PUCNTs / CuCr复合材料的极限抗拉强度（382.9 MPa）和伸长率（37.02％）高于相似的报道材料。在PUCNTs / CuCr复合材料的强度和延展性之间取得了平衡。这归因于界面碳化物和界面接触面积的组合作用，其改善了负载转移能力和界面粘附性，并且还促进了PUCNT的位错累积能力。还使用修正剪切滞后强化和位错强化模型研究了PUCNT的强化效果。这项工作表明，PUCNT在增强CMC的机械性能方面比CNT更好，是增强填料。