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

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Abdollah Saboori, Matteo Pavese, Claudio Badini & Paolo Fino

Authors
  1. Abdollah Saboori
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  2. Matteo Pavese
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  3. Claudio Badini
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  4. Paolo Fino
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Correspondence to Abdollah Saboori.

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Saboori, A., Pavese, M., Badini, C. et al. Development of Al- and Cu-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets: Fabrication and characterization. Front. Mater. Sci. 11, 171–181 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-017-0377-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-017-0377-9

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