Fabricating graphene-titanium composites by laser sintering PVA bonding graphene titanium coating: Microstructure and mechanical properties

Graphene reinforced titanium (Ti-Gr) nanocomposite was prepared by laser sintering of the mixture of PVA bonding graphene sheets and titanium powders. During laser sintering process, the survival and uniform dispersion of graphene have been demonstrated, which embedded in Ti matrix, and formed Ti-Gr nanocomposites. Microstructures and components of the nanocomposites were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. The survival of graphene sheets in nanocomposite is due to rapid heating/cooling in laser sintering process. Hardness measurements showed that the laser sintered Ti-Gr nanocomposites achieved more than 2-fold Vickers Hardness value of barely sintered Ti.