Influences of Interfaces on Dynamic Recrystallization and Texture Evolution During Hot Rolling of Graphene Nanoribbon/Cu Composite

The influences of rigid heterointerfaces on the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process and texture evolution during hot rolling of a graphene nanoribbon (GNR)-reinforced Cu-matrix composite system are investigated. The Cu/GNR interfaces contribute to the atypical recrystallization-type and brass-type textures developed in composites within 0.5 and 3 vol pct GNRs, respectively, deviating from the normal Cu-type texture found in their pure Cu counterpart. The heterointerfaces may change the texture evolution of the Cu matrix in four ways, namely, retard the dislocation cross slip, activate partial slip, generate geometrically necessary dislocations, and promote the DRX process. These are corroborated through viscoplastic self-consistent simulations, which well reproduce the texture development in all samples by considering the interface–dislocation interactions, the activation of non-normal slip, and the interface-driven DRX nucleation. This study suggests the possibility of manipulating the microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties of traditional metallic materials through the design of heterophase interfaces.