Graphene Based Aluminum Matrix Hybrid Nano Composites

Abstract

There is a growing demand for the light weight nano composite materials for advanced material applications, such as aerospace, automobile, electrical appliances, biomedical etc. because of their high specific strength/stiffness, improved temperature stability, improved wear and corrosion resistance etc. Properties of aluminum matrix can be significantly improved with well dispersed/distributed low concentration of nano reinforcements. Various types of carbon based nano reinforcements such as carbon nanotube, graphene, carbon nanofibers, fullerenes etc. are widely used for the fabrication of advanced metal matrix nano composites materials. This chapter discusses graphene based aluminum matrix hybrid nano composites for the applications in advanced material fields. Starting with the graphene as a prospective nano reinforcement for the hybrid nano composites, various common methods for the manufacturing of hybrid nano composites, mechanism of reinforcement dispersion/distribution in the hybrid nano composites are discussed. This followed by microstructure and properties of hybrid nano composites are included. The chapter has been concluded with few prospective applications of graphene based aluminum matrix hybrid nano composites in advanced materials fields.