Composite number

Nanoparticle

Fabrication

Metallurgy

Materials science

Graphene

Powder metallurgy

Titanium

Alternative medicine

Nanotechnology

Alloy

Microstructure

Composite material

Sintering

Medicine

Titanium alloy

Pathology

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

The high reaction tendency between graphene and titanium (Ti) matrix during fabrication of graphene/Ti composites aggravates the structural integrity of graphene and limits its outstanding strengthening potential. In order to solve this problem, in this study, few-layered graphene (FLG) decorated with SiC nanoparticles ([email protected]) was synthesized to reinforce Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) alloy via a powder metallurgy route. Microstructure and Vickers hardness of the developed [email protected]/Ti64 composites were studied systematically. Results showed that the SiCp decoration changed the morphology of FLG/Ti interface from continuous TiC reaction layer to discontinuous TiC nanoparticles during hot-press sintering. This discontinuous interface not only kept the integrity of FLG by suppressing its reaction with Ti matrix but also led to direct bonding between FLG and Ti. This designing strategy of protecting the reinforcement by secondary particle decoration can be potentially applied to the development of high-performance metal matrix composites.

Inhibiting the interfacial reaction between few-layered graphene and titanium via SiC nanoparticle decoration