METHOD FOR PRODUCING CARBON NANOTUBE-DISPERSED COMPOSITE MATERIAL

摘要

Disclosed is a carbon nanotube-dispersed composite material which makes the best of excellent electrical conduction, thermal conduction and strength characteristics of a carbon nanotube while making good use of features of a ceramic such as zirconia which has corrosion resistance and heat resistance. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a carbon nanotube-dispersed composite material. Long-chain carbon nanotubes (including a carbon nanotube subjected to discharge plasma processing by itself in advance) and a sinterable ceramic or metal powder are kneaded and dispersed by a planetary mill which does not use media, and then the kneaded dispersion is subjected to discharge plasma processing to be compacted through discharge plasma sintering. Consequently, the carbon nanotubes spread inside the sintered body like a net, thereby enabling to make effective use of electrical conduction, thermal conduction and strength characteristics of the carbon nanotube together with the characteristics of the ceramic or metal powder base.