US Patent 7651766 - CNT reinforced copper nanocomposite

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7651766.html

This patent from the University of Central Florida teaches manufacturing copper composites with enhanced electrical conductivity using carbon nanotubes. Claim 1 reads:

1. A carbon nanotube reinforced metal nanocomposite material, comprising:

a continuous metal phase comprising copper, and

a plurality of carbon nanotubes uniformly covered by and interfacially bonded to said continuous metal phase,

wherein said continuous metal phase extends throughout substantially an entire volume of said nanocomposite material, and

further wherein said nanocomposite material provides a 25° C. bulk electrical conductivity that is at least 20% greater than a 25° C. bulk electrical conductivity of said metal.