Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Decorated with Copper and Silver Nanoparticles for Achieving Superior Strength and Ductility in Titanium Composites

Graphene and its derivates are extensively applied to enhance the mechanical properties of metal matrix nanocomposites. However, their high reactivity with a such as titanium thus limited strengthening effects major problems for achieving high-performance graphene-based Herein, reduced graphene oxide nanosheets decorated copper or silver (i.e., Cu@rGO Ag@rGO) nanopowders introduced into Ti composites using multiple processes one-step chemical coreduction, hydrothermal synthesis, low-energy ball milling, spark plasma sintering, hot rolling. The Cu@rGO/Ti Ag@rGO/Ti nanocomposites exhibit significantly enhanced strength superior elongation fracture (846 MPa-11.6 900 MPa-8.4%, respectively, basically reaching level commercial Ti–6Al–4V alloy), which much higher than those fabricated (670 MPa-7.0%) rGO/Ti (726 MPa-11.3%). Furthermore, toughness values M@rGO/Ti all improved, that is, highest KIC value is 34.4 MPa·m1/2 0.5Cu@rGO/Ti composites, 20.28 51.5% monolithic 0.5rGO/Ti respectively. outstanding attributed effective load transfer in situ formed TiC nanoparticles formation interfacial intermetallic compounds between rGO matrix. This study provides new insights approach fabrication metal-modified graphene/Ti performance.