A powder-metallurgy-based strategy toward three-dimensional graphene-like network for reinforcing copper matrix composites

Xiang Zhang; Yixin Xu; Miaocao Wang; Enzuo Liu; Naiqin Zhao; Chunsheng Shi; Dong Lin; Fulong Zhu; Chunnian He

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16490-4

A powder-metallurgy-based strategy toward three-dimensional graphene-like network for reinforcing copper matrix composites

Nat Commun. 2020 Jun 2;11(1):2775. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16490-4.

Authors

Xiang Zhang^{1

2}, Yixin Xu³, Miaocao Wang³, Enzuo Liu^{1

4}, Naiqin Zhao^{1

4

5}, Chunsheng Shi¹, Dong Lin⁶, Fulong Zhu⁷, Chunnian He^{8

9

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China.
² Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, P. R. China.
³ School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430074, P. R. China.
⁴ Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China.
⁶ Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
⁷ School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430074, P. R. China. zhufulong@hust.edu.cn.
⁸ School of Materials Science and Engineering and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China. cnhe08@tju.edu.cn.
⁹ Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, P. R. China. cnhe08@tju.edu.cn.
¹⁰ Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China. cnhe08@tju.edu.cn.
¹¹ Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P. R. China. cnhe08@tju.edu.cn.

Abstract

Three-dimensional graphene network is a promising structure for improving both the mechanical properties and functional capabilities of reinforced polymer and ceramic matrix composites. However, direct application in a metal matrix remains difficult due to the reason that wetting is usually unfavorable in the carbon/metal system. Here we report a powder-metallurgy based strategy to construct a three-dimensional continuous graphene network architecture in a copper matrix through thermal-stress-induced welding between graphene-like nanosheets grown on the surface of copper powders. The interpenetrating structural feature of the as-obtained composites not only promotes the interfacial shear stress to a high level and thus results in significantly enhanced load transfer strengthening and crack-bridging toughening simultaneously, but also constructs additional three-dimensional hyperchannels for electrical and thermal conductivity. Our approach offers a general way for manufacturing metal matrix composites with high overall performance.