Characterization of the graphene reinforced aluminium matrix nanocomposites prepared by a novel method

In this research, graphene reinforced aluminium matrix nanocomposites were fabricated by combination of high energy ball milling (HEBM) and molecular level mixing (MLM) processes, followed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Field Emission Scanning Microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to characterize the synthesized GO and nanocomposites. FTIR, XRD and FESEM analyses revealed that Cu/RGO nanocomposite was well synthesized by MLM method with a uniform distribution of Cu nanoparticles on RGO surface. The results showed that no Al4C3 phase was formed during the manufacturing process, but, Al2Cu nanoparticles precipitated during SPS treatment. In addition, SPS process resulted in a near fully dense nanocomposite with relative density of 99%. The investigation of mechanical properties of the sintered nanocomposite indicated an increase of 16% and 44% of Vickers hardness, respectively for 0.5 and 1wt.% graphene- containing nanocomposites in comparison to the unreinforced Al-Cu alloy

Keywords:

Aluminium matrix nanocomposites , Graphene , Molecular level mixing (MLM) , Spark plasma sintering (SPS) , Mechanical properties