Open AccessGraphene nanoplatelets induced heterogeneous bimodal structural magnesium matrix composites with enhanced mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Shulin Xiang,
Xiaojun Wang,
Manoj Gupta,
Kun Wu,
X.S. Hu,
M.Y. Zheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep38824
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , nanocomposite , strengthening mechanisms of materials , microstructure , graphene , magnesium , exfoliated graphite nano platelets , alloy , modulus , dispersion (optics) , carbon nanotube , magnesium alloy , matrix (chemical analysis) , nanotechnology , metallurgy , physics , optics
In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced magnesium (Mg) matrix composites were synthesised using the multi-step dispersion route. Well-dispersed but inhomogeneously distributed GNPs were obtained in the matrix. Compared with the monolithic alloy, the nanocomposites exhibited dramatically enhanced Young’s modulus, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength and relatively high plasticity, which mainly attributed to the significant heterogeneous laminated microstructure induced by the addition of GNPs. With increasing of the concentration of GNPs, mechanical properties of the composites were gradually improved. Especially, the strengthening efficiency of all the composites exceeded 100%, which was significantly higher than that of carbon nanotubes reinforced Mg matrix composites. The grain refinement and load transfer provided by the two-dimensional and wrinkled surface structure of GNPs were the dominated strengthening mechanisms of the composites. This investigation develops a new method for incorporating GNPs in metals for fabricating high-performance composites.