Robust integrity of graphene in heavily stretched copper composites
Tsinghua University PressGraphene has emerged as an ideal reinforcement phase for copper-based composites due to its exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. However, its structural integrity under high-strain deformation remains poorly understood. In this study, a “strain-slip” mechanism is proposed and validated through in-situ optical observation, Raman spectroscopy, and surface potential measurements. The results reveal that graphene initially deforms coherently with the copper matrix but undergoes interfacial slip beyond a critical strain, effectively avoiding fracture and maintaining structural functionality. Based on this mechanism, Gr/Cu composite wires were successfully fabricated, exhibiting outstanding tensile strength (428 MPa, 12.9% higher than pure copper) and excellent electrical conductivity (102.2% IACS after annealing). These findings offer new insights into interfacial mechanics and provide a robust strategy for developing stretchable, high-performance metal-based composites.
- Journal
- Nano Research