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Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of a Novel Hybrid Aluminum/Al2O3/RGO Composite Synthesized Using Powder Metallurgy

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Abstract

Recently, graphene has lent itself as a promising additive to obtain aluminum-based matrix composites of superior mechanical strength and outstanding wear resistance. In this investigation, composite samples are synthesized by adding reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and alumina (Al2O3) particles to aluminum metal matrix via powder metallurgy technique. RGO is fabricated using modified hammer's method and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared). The synthesized composite samples are tested in wear using a developed pin on disk test setup. The microstructure of each sample is examined using optical microscope as well as SEM, while the hardness values are measured using Vickers microhardness tester. Experimental results clearly indicate that adding RGO to the aluminum matrix considerably enhances its wear resistance when compared to Al2O3 additive, i.e., the results prove superior lubricant characteristics of graphene. In addition, hybrid composite specimens from Al2O3 and graphene demonstrate remarkably higher hardness values than those reinforced by each single additive. Increasing Al2O3 wt.% results in a considerable agglomeration of particles leading to deterioration of the mechanical and tribological properties in both hybrid and single additive specimens. In the investigated range, the highest hardness and wear resistance are manifested by hybrid composite containing 0.3 wt.% RGO and 5 wt.% Al2O3.

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Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge technical support from SARTA City and Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt, for enabling some instrumentation for experimental investigation. Also, they acknowledge Prof. Dr. Dina El-Gayar, Alexandria University, Egypt, for preparing graphene which was used in this investigation.

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  1. Production Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, El-Chatby, Alexandria, 21544, Egypt

    M. A. Daha, Belal Galal Nassef & M. G. A. Nassef

  2. Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, School of Innovative Design Engineering, Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt

    M. G. A. Nassef

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  1. M. A. Daha
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Correspondence to Belal Galal Nassef.

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Belal Galal Nassef certifies that he has no financial conflict of interest (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) in connection with this article. Mohamed Abd-Elmonem Daha certifies that he has no financial conflict of interest (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) in connection with this article. M. G. A. Nassef certifies that he has no financial conflict of interest (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) in connection with this article.

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Daha, M.A., Nassef, B.G. & Nassef, M.G.A. Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of a Novel Hybrid Aluminum/Al2O3/RGO Composite Synthesized Using Powder Metallurgy. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 2473–2481 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05547-0

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