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Highly enhanced mechanical properties in Cu matrix composites reinforced with graphene decorated metallic nanoparticles

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Abstract

This study investigated the preparation and mechanical performance of graphene/metal composites using Ni nanoparticles decorated graphene nanoplatelets (Ni-GPLs) as a reinforcing component in Cu matrix (Ni-GPL/Cu). Ni-GPLs consisting of well-dispersed Ni nanoparticles strongly attached on GPLs were successfully synthesized by chemically reducing Ni ions on the surface of GPLs. The Ni-GPL/Cu composites with only 0.8 vol% Ni-GPLs exhibited a significant improvement in ultimate tensile strength (UTS), being 42 % higher than that of monolithic Cu. The significant strength enhancement is attributed to the unique structure of Ni-GPLs, which was expected to generate a good dispersion and strong GPL–Cu interfacial bonding. The UTS of 0.8 vol% GPL/Cu composites was even lower than that of the monolithic Cu due to the GPL aggregates. The obtained results indicated that Ni-GPLs are novel and effective reinforcing components for greatly improving the mechanical properties of the graphene/metal composites.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by Science and Technology Research Foundation of Hebei Education Department for Young Teachers in University (No. QN20131168).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Equipment Manufacture, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, 056038, China

    Meixia Li, Hongwei Che, Xiaoyan Liu, Shunxing Liang & Hailong Xie

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  1. Meixia Li
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  2. Hongwei Che
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  3. Xiaoyan Liu
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  4. Shunxing Liang
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  5. Hailong Xie
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Correspondence to Meixia Li.

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Li, M., Che, H., Liu, X. et al. Highly enhanced mechanical properties in Cu matrix composites reinforced with graphene decorated metallic nanoparticles. J Mater Sci 49, 3725–3731 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8082-x

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