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Mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical behavior of hybrid aluminum matrix composite containing boron carbide (B4C) and graphene nanoplatelets

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Abstract

In the present work, mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical behaviors of Al Alloy 6061–(0–10) % B4C–(0.25–1.2) % graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composites, prepared by a combination of solution mixing and powder metallurgy, were investigated. Properties such as hardness, compressive strength, wear rates, and coefficient of friction (COF) were used to investigate the effects of GNPs on mechanical and self-lubricating tribological behavior. The corrosion resistance of composites was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance techniques. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and EDS mapping were employed to study the distribution, the fracture profile, and wear mechanism. The AA 6061–10% B4C–0.6% GNPs composites exhibited sharp increase in hardness and compressive strength and significant decrease in wear rates and COF. However, for GNPs contents exceeding over 0.6 wt%, mechanical properties and wear performances deteriorated. Pulling out of sheared pultruded GNPs was observed during the fracture of composites. Worn surfaces of GNPs-containing composites showed the smeared graphene layer with some macro-cracks exhibiting delamination wear. It was found that the corrosion inhibition efficiency of GNPs was more pronounced in H3BO3 environment than in NaCl solution.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Head, Materials Division, PINSTECH, Islamabad, for permitting us to utilize the facilities and resources for this work. The authors also feel indebted to the Chairman, Materials Division, IST, Islamabad, for the generous support in tribological, mechanical, and microstructural characterization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Qaisar Abbas shafqat & Waqar Adil Syed

  2. Materials Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Rafi-ud-din, Muhammad Shahzad & Abdul Basit

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Mahmood Khan & Sultan Mehmood

  4. Department of Physics, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Nasir Mehboob

  5. Physics Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan

    Tahir Ali

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  1. Qaisar Abbas shafqat
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Correspondence to Rafi-ud-din.

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shafqat, Q.A., Rafi-ud-din, Shahzad, M. et al. Mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical behavior of hybrid aluminum matrix composite containing boron carbide (B4C) and graphene nanoplatelets. Journal of Materials Research 34, 3116–3129 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2019.242

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