Fabrication of carbon nanofiber/Cu composite powder by electroless plating and microstructural evolution during thermal exposure

Carbon nanofiber/Cu composite powder has been fabricated by electroless plating. The copper plates were deposited on the carbon nanofiber uniformly and densely. The copper particles were aggregated during the thermal exposure in vacuum and hydrogen in order to reduce surface energy. Thermal exposure of the composite in air leads to the spheroidization of the powder.