Fabrication and tensile properties of graphene/copper composites prepared by electroless plating for structrual applications

Despite a growing interest in graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-based metal matrix composites, developing high-performance GNP/metal composites with full exploration of graphene properties remains a great challenge. Here, we propose an effective method to prepare GNP/Cu composites by an electroless plating process and followed by a spark plasma sintering technique. The precoating of Cu nanoparticles on GNPs effectively inhibited the GNPs aggregations and made the dispersion of GNPs homogeneous in the composites. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed the formation of oxygen mediated bonding between the Cu matrix and the GNPs arising from the residue functional groups on GNPs. Tensile tests demonstrated 107 and 21% increases in tensile strength and Young's modulus, respectively, in 1.3 wt.% GNP/Cu composites. The measured modulus was in good agreement with the theoretical estimation from the Halpin-Tsai model. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim