Microstructural　and　mechanical　behavior　of　heat　treatable　Al-4.6Cu　binary　alloy　reinforced　with　graphene　nanoplates　(GNPs)　in　different　heat　treatment　status　were　investigated　in　this　paper.　The　addition　of　GNPs　significantly　enhanced　the　yield　strength　and　tensile　strength　of　Al-Cu　alloy　regardless　of　the　heat　treatment　conditions.　It　was　also　found　that　GNPs　accelerated　the　formation　of　precipitates,　leading　to　a　greatly　shortened　aging　time　for　GNPs/Al-4.6Cu　composite　to　reach　the　peak　hardness.　However,　aging　treatment　enhanced　the　strength　of　GNPs/Al-Cu　composite　very　little,　which　could　be　explained　by　the　interaction　between　GNPs,　precipitates　and　dislocations.　This　work　inspires　us　that　the　heat　treatment　process　of　aluminum　alloy　matrix　composites　should　be　designed　independently　with　the　matrix　in　quest　of　an　optimum　performance.　(c)　2021　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　Chinese　Society　for　Metals.