Investigating the potential of powder metallurgy for fabricating graphene nanoplatelets reinforced copper nanocomposites

Copper (Cu) is highly sought for its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. However, its limited mechanical strength hinders its wider application in demanding fields. This work explores the potential of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as a strengthening agent for Cu. Cu-GNP composites with varying GNP content (0.1-1.5 wt%) were fabricated using a combined ball milling and powder metallurgy approach. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were comprehensively analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. Compared to pure Cu, the Cu-GNP composites showcased significantly improved mechanical performance. Notably, the Cu-1.0 wt% GNP composite exhibited a remarkable ∼27% and ∼53% enhancement in compressive strength and micro-hardness, respectively. This improvement is attributed to the effective load transfer between Cu and well-dispersed GNPs, which act as reinforcement elements and inhibit dislocation movement. These findings demonstrate the promising potential of Cu-GNP composites for applications requiring high strength.