Drawability and size effects for micro-arrayed deep drawing of Ni-Co/GO nanocomposite foils

For the first time, three different male dies (a rigid male die, an aluminum male die, and a nanoceramic powder male die) are used for a micro-arrayed deep drawing process using graphene oxide (GO) reinforced Ni-Co nanocomposite. Micro-parts with different shapes can be formed using the different male dies, and models to predict crack positions are established. The nanocomposite size effect leads to an increased depth-diameter ratio for decreasing female die diameters, and the conservation of volume leads to higher depth-diameter ratios and thinning rates. The reinforcing GO phase not only is able to improve the micro formability of the composite, but also inhibits grain growth at high temperature.