Nanodynamic mechanical behavior of graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced tantalum carbide

Nanodynamic mechanical analysis (nanoDMA) is performed on spark plasma sintered tantalum carbide composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The addition of GNPs enhances damping (tanδ) at 25–100 Hz frequencies by up to 300%. It also improves damping behavior through energy-dissipating mechanisms, such as GNP bending, kinking and sliding. A model for correlating improvement in the damping behavior with the fracture toughness is presented. GNP energy-dissipating mechanisms are most effective in improving damping behavior when GNPs are dispersed uniformly.