Graphene nanoplatelets reinforced NiCu composite manufactured by laser melting deposition

To improve the wear resistance of the NiCu alloy, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as reinforcement reinforced the NiCu/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composite by mechanical alloying (MA) and laser melting deposition (LMD). The GNPs are transformed into in-situ graphite/Ni-Cu (G/Ni-Cu) particles, which are evenly dispersed in the Ni-Cu matrix in NiCu/GNPs composite coating. The principle of the original GNPs grows into G/Ni-Cu particle is analyzed. Moreover, compared with NiCu coating, which consisted of a single phase (Ni-Cu), microhardness increased by 130% and wear mass loss of the NiCu/GNPs composite coating is reduced by 936%. • The composite coating was prepared by LMD technology which is uniform and dense. • The in-situ graphite/Ni-Cu particles were found in the composite coating. • The microhardness of composite coating is increased by 1.3 times • The wear resistance is extremely improved, and the mass loss is reduced by 936%.