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Microstructural evolution, mechanical profile, and fracture morphology of aluminum matrix composites containing graphene nanoplatelets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2017

Mahmood Khan ,
Maham Amjad ,
Ansa Khan ,
Rafi Ud-Din ,
Iftikhar Ahmad  and
Tayyab Subhani
Mahmood Khan
Affiliation:
Composite Research Centre, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Maham Amjad
Affiliation:
Composite Research Centre, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Ansa Khan
Affiliation:
Composite Research Centre, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Rafi Ud-Din
Affiliation:
Materials Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nilore 45650, Pakistan
Iftikhar Ahmad
Affiliation:
Deanship of Scientific Research, Advanced Manufacturing Institute, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tayyab Subhani*
Affiliation:
Composite Research Centre, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: tayyab.subhani@ist.edu.pk
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Abstract

Aluminum matrix composites were prepared by powder processing route containing three different loadings of graphene nanoplatelets, i.e., 1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt%. Ball milling of composite powders was performed to ensure the uniform dispersion of nanoplatelets in aluminum powder, followed by their consolidation to near theoretical densities. Microstructural evolution after composite preparation was witnessed by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, while the mechanical property profile was evaluated by hardness, compression, and flexural tests. The mechanical properties of composites containing 5 wt% nanoplatelets were found with maximum improvements in hardness, compression, and flexural strengths of 35%, 433%, and 283%, respectively. This increase in mechanical performance is related to uniform dispersion and microstructural development in composites by incorporating nanoplatelets. Fractographic characterization indicated a change in fracture morphology from matrix-dominant in pure aluminum to nanoplatelet-dominant in composites. In particular, shearing and pull out of nanoplatelets were observed during the fracture of composites with simultaneous restricted plastic deformation of the surrounding aluminum matrix.

Keywords

aluminum matrix compositesgraphene nanoplateletspressureless sinteringscanning electron microscopymechanical propertiesfracture morphology
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 11 , 14 June 2017 , pp. 2055 - 2066
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Jürgen Eckert

References

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