Development of Al- and Cu-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets: Fabrication and characterization

doi:10.1007/s11706-017-0377-9

Front. Mater. Sci.

2017, Vol. 11

Issue (2) : 171-181 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-017-0377-9

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Development of Al- and Cu-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets: Fabrication and characterization

Abdollah SABOORI(

), Matteo PAVESE, Claudio BADINI, Paolo FINO

Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

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Abstract

Aluminum and copper matrix nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were successfully fabricated by a wet mixing method followed by conventional powder metallurgy. The uniform dispersion of GNPs within the metal matrices showed that the wet mixing method has a great potential to be used as a mixing technique. However, by increasing the GNPs content, GNPs agglomeration was more visible. DSC and XRD of Al/GNPs nanocomposites showed that no new phase formed below the melting point of Al. Microstructural observations in both nanocomposites reveal the evident grain refinement effect as a consequence of GNPs addition. The interfacial bonding evaluation shows a poor interfacial bonding between GNPs and Al, while the interfacial bonding between Cu and GNPs is strong enough to improve the properties of the Cu/GNPs nanocomposites. In both composites, the coefficient of thermal expansion decreases as a function of GNPs while, their hardness is improved by increasing the GNPs content as well as their elastic modulus.

Keywords nanocomposite aluminum copper graphene microstructure thermal expansion

Corresponding Author(s): Abdollah SABOORI

Online First Date: 04 May 2017 Issue Date: 26 May 2017

Cite this article:

Abdollah SABOORI,Matteo PAVESE,Claudio BADINI, et al. Development of Al- and Cu-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets: Fabrication and characterization[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2017, 11(2): 171-181.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-017-0377-9
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2017/V11/I2/171

Fig.1 The corresponding flow chart of the nanocomposite powder mixture preparation.

Fig.2 SEM images of (a) as-received GNPs and (b) pure Al powder.

Fig.3 EDS mapping of Al-1 wt.% GNPs nanocomposites.

Fig.4 (a) DSC curves of pure Al and Al-2 wt.% GNPs and (b) the XRD pattern of Al-2 wt.% GNPs after thermal analysis.

Fig.5 SEM images of (a) Al-0.5 wt.% GNPs and (b) Al-1 wt.% GNPs. (c) EDS of selected point at a grain boundary and (d) a grain boundary in Al-1 wt.% GNPs nanocomposite.

Fig.6 EDS results of Al-1 wt.% GNPs nanocomposite.

Fig.7 (a) Vickers hardness vs. GNPs content and (b) CTE vs. temperature of Al-x GNPs (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0 wt.%).

Fig.8 Comparison between experimental data and theoretical calculations of Young’s moduli E_c and E_|| for Al/GNP composites as function of the GNPs content.

Fig.9 SEM images of pure Cu powder with the sub-image showing EDS analysis of the selected point.

Fig.10 (a)(b)(c) SEM images of Cu-2 wt.% GNPs composite powder mixture and (d) corresponding EDS analysis of the selected area.

Fig.11 The XRD pattern of Cu-2 wt.% GNPs after sintering at 950°C for 2 h.

Fig.12 SEM images of (a) Cu-1 wt.% GNPs, (b) Cu-2 wt.% GNPs, (c) a grain boundary in Cu-1 wt.% GNPs, and (d) an interface of Cu/GNPs with the corresponding linear EDS analysis.

Fig.13 (a) Vickers hardness vs. GNPs content and (b) CTE vs. temperature of Cu-x GNPs (x = 0, 1, 2 wt.%).

Fig.14 Comparison between experimental data and theoretical calculations of Young’s moduli E_c and E_|| for Cu/GNPs composites as function of the GNPs content.

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