Al–Si–Cu–Mg Matrix Composites with Graphene: PM‐Based Production, Microstructural, and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Few‐layered graphene (FLG)‐reinforced Al‐Si(10 wt%)‐Cu(2 wt%)‐Mg(1 wt%) matrix composites are prepared by the high‐energy mechanical alloying (MA) method, which is a branch of powder metallurgy. Al‐10Si‐2Cu‐1Mg matrix is reinforced with varying amounts of FLG (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 wt%) via MA for different durations (0, 2, 4, and 8 h), and consolidation is conducted by pressureless sintering. Microstructural, mechanical, and tribological characterizations are applied to nonmechanically alloyed (non‐MAed) and mechanically alloyed (MAed) powder and bulk composites comparatively. The bulk composites produced via the MA‐containing processing route illustrate more homogeneous phase distributions and higher densification rates. The FLG/AlSiCuMg composites exhibit enhanced materials properties compared to their unreinforced counterparts. The addition of 1 and 2 wt% FLG to the Al‐10Si‐2Cu‐1Mg alloy, respectively, improved the mechanical properties in terms of microhardness (155 and 162 HV), compression strength (441 and 412 MPa), and wear rate (11.5 × 10−4 and 9.2 × 10−4 mm3 N−1 m). Therefore, the experimental results show that graphene ensures a reinforcing effect on the Al matrix, at least provided by some of the ceramic particles.