Simultaneously enhanced strength and ductility in graphene nanosheet/Al-Cu-Mg nano-laminated composites by incorporating coarse domains

ABSTRACT

A heterogeneous structure by designing soft/hard domains with dramatically different strengths is effective to maintain the high ductility of metals but it sacrifices the yield strength. Here we first demonstrate a simultaneous enhancement of yield strength and tensile elongation by ∼20% in graphene nanosheet (GNS)/Al-Cu-Mg nano-laminated composites, with a tensile strength of ∼687 MPa and elongation over 10%, by designing heterogeneous domains with a little difference. The underlying mechanism was investigated by microstructural characterizations and simulations, and the hetero-deformation-induced hardening and nano-precipitation strengthening were mainly responsible for the strength-ductility synergy. This study broadens the understanding of heterostructured materials in pursuit of extraordinary mechanical properties.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

IMPACT STATEMENT

A novel heterogeneous nano-laminated structure with little domain difference was designed to achieve an excellent strength-ductility combination in GNS/Al-Cu-Mg composites.

KEYWORDS:

• Metal matrix composites (MMCs)
• heterogeneous structure
• hetero-deformation-induced (HDI) hardening
• nano-laminated structure
• precipitation strengthening

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52192592, 51801068, 52050410332, 52171143, 52011530034, 51971131) and Shanghai Science & Technology Committee (No. 21JM0010100).