Effect of processing route on mechanical and thermal properties of few-layered graphene (FLG)-reinforced copper matrix composites.

In this study, copper/few-layered graphene (Cu/FLG) composite powder is prepared using two different approaches, chemical synthesis and mechanical milling, and the effect of the processing routes on the mechanical and thermal behaviors of hot-pressed pallets is examined. With both processing routes, the strength of the matrix is increased ∼3.90 and ∼2.82 times by grain refinement, and is further increased 1.14 times by incorporating 0.5 vol.% FLG. In addition, for both processing routes, the coefficient of thermal expansion is reduced from ∼17.07 to ∼15.15 (ppm/K) by incorporating 0.5 vol.% of FLG in both composites. Considering its cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and potential for mass-production, the mechanical process demonstrates the ability to produce Cu/FLG composites with a high mechanical and thermal performance that is comparable to solution-based chemical synthesis routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]