Strengthening metal nanolaminates under shock compression through dual effect of strong and weak graphene interface

We use molecular dynamics method to study the strengthening effect of graphene-metal nanolayered composites under shock loading. The graphene interfaces have the advantages of both strong and weak interfacial features simultaneously, which solves a strengthening paradox of interfacial structures. On one hand, the weak bending stiffness of graphene leads to interlayer reflections and weakening the shock wave. On the other hand, the strong in-plane sp²-bonded structures constrain the dislocations and heal the material. The elastic recovery due to graphene interfacial constraints plays an important role in the strengthening effect, and the shock strength can be enhanced by decreasing the interlayer distance. This interface with strong/weak duality should lead to an improved fundamental understanding on the dynamic mechanism of composites with interfacial structures.