An Investigation into Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Nanocomposite Reinforced by Graphene–Boron Nitride Hybrid

Considering the widespread use of aluminum composites in various industries and the emergence of nanomaterials such as graphene and boron nitrite (BN) with their unique properties, aluminum-based nanocomposite reinforced by the graphene-BN hybrid was fabricated at different percentages. For this purpose, the graphene-BN hybrid was prepared and subjected to wet milling along with the aluminum powder. The mechanical properties of the final nanocomposite which was consolidated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method were examined. Aluminum-based composite specimens containing ۱ wt.% graphene–۰ wt.% BN (AGB۱), ۰.۹۵ wt.% graphene–۰.۰۵ wt.% BN (AGB۲), ۰.۹۰ wt.% graphene–۰.۱ wt.% BN (AGB۳), and ۰.۸۵ wt.% graphene–۰.۱۵ wt.% BN (AGB۴) were fabricated and compared with non-reinforced aluminum (AGB۰). The hardness values of ۴۸.۱, ۵۱.۱, ۵۶.۲, ۵۴.۱, and ۴۳.۶ Hv were obtained for AGB۰, AGB۱, AGB۲, AGB۳, and AGB۴, respectively. Additionally, tensile strengths of these specimens were ۶۷.۲, ۱۰۲.۱, ۱۲۹.۵, ۱۲۳.۷, and ۱۱۴.۷ MPa, respectively. According to the results of the hardness and tensile tests, it was revealed that the AGB۲ specimen had the highest tensile strength (۹۳% higher than AGB۰ and ۲۷% higher than AGB۱) and hardness (۱۷% higher than AGB۰ and ۱۰% higher than AGB۱).

Keywords:

Nanocomposite , Aluminum , Graphene , Boron nitride