The fabrication and characterization of graphene reinforced aluminum composites

Abstract

Aluminum based metal matrix composites (AL-MMC) can be used in order to obtain the high strength, good stiffness, low density, good thermal and electrical properties. In recent years, graphene nanoplates (GNPs) have been used as reinforcement element as well as SiC, Al2O3, WC, TiC in AL-MMC. In this study, pure aluminum and graphene reinforced aluminum composites (0.1wt% 0.3wt%, 0.5wt% GNPs) were fabricated with powder metallurgy method. The crystal structure and microstructure of fabricated composites were analyzed with X-Ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With this study, the effects of GNPs content, sintering time and sintering temperature were investigated on density and micro Vickers hardness of composites. The maximum micro Vickers hardness was obtained at 0.1wt% GNPs addition, t(s)=180 min. sintering time and T-s=630 degrees C sintering temperature.