Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Surfactant-decorated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced aluminum nanocomposites: sintering effects on hardness and wear

  • Published:
International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The exceptional properties of graphene make it ideal as a reinforcement to enhance the properties of aluminum matrices and this critically depends on uniform dispersion. In this study, the dispersion issue was addressed by sonication and non-covalent surface functionalization of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) using two types of surfactant: anionic (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfate (SDBS)) and non-ionic polymeric (ethyl cellulose (EC)). After colloidal mixing with Al powder, consolidation was performed at two sintering temperatures (550 and 620°C). The structure, density, mechanical and wear properties of the nanocomposite samples were investigated and compared with a pure Al and a pure GNPs/Al nanocomposite sample. Noticeably, EC-based 0.5wt% GNPs/Al samples showed the highest increment of 31% increase in hardness with reduced wear rate of 98.25% at 620°C, while a 22% increase in hardness with reduced wear rate of 96.98% at 550°C was observed, as compared to pure Al. Microstructural analysis and the overall results validate the use of EC-based GNPs/Al nanocomposites as they performed better than pure Al and pure GNPs/Al nanocomposite at both sintering temperatures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Y. Dong, R. Umer, and A.K.T. Lau, Fillers and Reinforcements for Advanced Nanocomposites, Woodhead Publishing, UK, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  2. S.C. Tjong, Recent progress in the development and properties of novel metal matrix nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets, Mater. Sci. Eng. R, 74(2013), No. 10, p. 281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. C.N.R. Rao and A.K. Sood, Graphene: Synthesis, Properties, and Phenomena, Wiley-VCH, Germany, 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Z. Hu, G. Tong, D. Lin, C. Chen, H. Guo, J. Xu, and L. Zhou, Graphene-reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites-a review, Mater. Sci. Technol., 32(2016), No. 9, p.930.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. H.G. Prashantha Kumar and M. Anthony Xavior, Effect of graphene addition and tribological performance of Al 6061/graphene flake composite, Tribol. Mater. Surf. Interfaces, 11(2017), No. 2, p.88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Nieto, A. Bisht, D. Lahiri, C. Zhang, and A. Agarwal, Graphene reinforced metal and ceramic matrix composites: a review, Int. Mater. Rev., 62(2017), No. 5, p. 241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. H. Asgharzadeh and M. Sedigh, Synthesis and mechanical properties of Al matrix composites reinforced with few-layer graphene and graphene oxide, J. Alloys Compd., 728(2017), p. 47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Z. Baig, O. Mamat, and M. Mustapha, Recent progress on the dispersion and the strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes and graphene-reinforced metal nanocomposites: a review, Crit. Rev. Solid State Mater. Sci., 43(2018), No. 1, p. 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. B. Chen and K. Kondoh, Sintering behaviors of carbon nanotubes -aluminum composite powders, Metals, 6(2016), No. 9, p. 213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Z. Baig, O. Mamat, M. Mustapha, A. Mumtaz, M. Sarfraz, and S. Haider, An efficient approach to address issues of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) incorporation in aluminium powders and their compaction behavior, Metals, 8(2018), No. 2, p. 90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. H.P. Zhang, C. Xu, W.L. Xiao, K. Ameyama, and C.L. Ma, Enhanced mechanical properties of Al5083 alloy with graphene nanoplates prepared by ball milling and hot extrusion, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 658(2016), p. 8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. X. Zeng, J. Teng, J.G. Yu, AS. Tan, D.F. Fu, and H. Zhang, Fabrication of homogeneously dispersed graphene/Al composites by solution mixing and powder metallurgy, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 1, p. 102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. L. Guardia, M.J. Fernández-Merino, J.I. Paredes, P. Solis-Fernandez, S. Villar-Rodil, A. Martinez-Alonso, and J.M.D. Tascón, High-throughput production of pristine graphene in an aqueous dispersion assisted by non-ionic surfactants, Carbon, 49(2011), No. 5, p. 1653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. V. Georgakilas, M. Otyepka, A.B. Bourlinos, V. Chandra, N. Kim, K.C. Kemp, P. Hobza, R. Zboril, and K.S. Kim, Functionalization of graphene: covalent and non-covalent approaches, derivatives and applications, Chem. Rev., 112(2012). No. 11, p. 6156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J.C. Wei and F. Inam, Processing of epoxy/graphene nanocomposites: effects of surfactants, J. Polym. Sci. Appl., 1(2017), No. 1, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  16. WM. Tian, S.M.. Li, B. Wang, X. Chen, J.H. Liu, and M. Yu, Graphene-reinforced aluminum matrix composites prepared by spark plasma sintering, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 23(2016), No. 6, p. 723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Z. Baig, O. Mamat, M. Mustapha, and M. Sarfraz, Influence of surfactant type on the dispersion state and properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced aluminium matrix nanocomposites, Fullerenes Nanotubes Carbon Nanostruct., 25(2017), No. 9, p. 545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Z. Baig, O. Mamat, M. Mustapha, A. Mumtaz, K.S. Munir, M. Sarfraz, Investigation of tip sonication effects on structural quality of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) for superior solvent dispersion, Ultrason. Sonochem., 45(2018), p. 133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. X.N. Mu, H.N. Cai, H.M, Zhang, Q.B. Fan, Z.H. Zhang, Y.X. Wu, Y. X. Ge, and D.D Wang, Interface evolution and superior tensile properties of multi-layer graphene reinforced pure Ti matrix composite, Mater. Des., 140(2017), p. 431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. X. Gao, H. Yue, E. Guo, H. Zhang, X.Y. Lin, L.H. Yao, and B. Wang, Preparation and tensile properties of homogeneously dispersed graphene reinforced aluminum matrix composites, Mater. Des., 94(2016), p. 54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. L.K. Pillari, A.K. Shukla, S.V.S.N. Murty, and V. Umasankar, Processing and characterization of graphene and multi-wall carbon nanotube-reinforced aluminium alloy AA2219 composites processed by ball milling and vacuum hot pressing, Metall. Microst. Anal., 6(2017), No. 4, p. 289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. W.S. Yang, G.Q. Chen, J. Qiao, S.F. Liu, R. Xiao, R.H. Dong, M. Hussain, and G.H. Wu, Graphene nanoflakes reinforced Al-20Si matrix composites prepared by pressure infiltration method, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 700(2017), p. 351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. J.H. Liu, U. Khan, J. Coleman, B. Fernandez, P. Rodriguez, S. Naher, and D. Brabazon, Graphene oxide and graphene nanosheet reinforced aluminium matrix composites: powder synthesis and prepared composite characteristics, Mater. Des., 94(2016), p. 87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. S.N. Alam and L. Kumar, Mechanical properties of aluminium based metal matrix composites reinforced with graphite nanoplatelets, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 667(2016), p. 16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. R. Pérez-Bustamante, D. Bolaños-Morales, J. Bonilla-Martínez, I. Estrada-Guel, and R. Martínez-Sánchez, Microstructural and hardness behavior of graphene-nanoplatelets/aluminum composites synthesized by mechanical alloying, J. Alloys. Compd., 615(2014), Suppl. 1, p. S578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Z. Baig, O. Mamat, and M. Mustapha, Recent progress on the dispersion and the strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes and graphene reinforced metal nanocomposites: a review, Crit. Rev. Solid State Mater. Sci., 43(2018), No. 1, p. 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Q. Zhang, Z.B. Qin, Q. Luo, Z. Wu, L.L. Liu, B. Shen, and W.B. Hu, Microstructure and nanoindentation behavior of Cu composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets by electroless co-deposition technique, Sci. Rep., 7(2017), p. 1338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Saboori, M. Pavese, C. Badini, and P. Fino, Development of Al-and Cu-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets: fabrication and characterization, Front. Mater. Sci., 11(2017), No. 2, p. 171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. P. Hidalgo-Manrique, S.J. Yan, F. Lin, Q.H. Hong, I.A. Kinloch, X. Chen, R.J. Young, X.Y. Zhang, and S.L. Dai, Microstructure and mechanical behavior of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, J. Mater. Sci., 52(2017), No. 23, p. 13466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. D.S. Li, Y. Ye, X.J. Liao, and Q.H. Qin, A novel method for preparing and characterizing graphene nanoplatelets/aluminum nanocomposites, Nano Res., 11(2018), No. 3, p. 1642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. M. Kostecki, J. Woźniak, T. Cygan, M. Petrus, and A. Olszyna, Tribological properties of aluminium alloy composites reinforced with multi-layer graphene—The influence of spark plasma texturing process, Materials, 10(2017), No. 8, p. 928.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the University Teknologi PETRONAS and the authors would like to thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering for providing technical facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia

    Zeeshan Baig, Othman Mamat, Mazli Mustapha & Sadaqat Ali

  2. Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia

    Asad Mumtaz

  3. Sustainable Energy Technologies Center, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Po-Box 800, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Mansoor Sarfraz

Authors
  1. Zeeshan Baig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Othman Mamat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mazli Mustapha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Asad Mumtaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sadaqat Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mansoor Sarfraz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zeeshan Baig or Othman Mamat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Baig, Z., Mamat, O., Mustapha, M. et al. Surfactant-decorated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced aluminum nanocomposites: sintering effects on hardness and wear. Int J Miner Metall Mater 25, 704–715 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1618-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1618-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation