Investigation of a Relative Weight Ratio of Graphite/Zinc Matrix Composite with a High-Resistance to Corrosion

Abstract

There has been a significant increase in the use of composite materials to reinforce metallic structures. Such an increase has been especially noted in marine and underground applications, where there is a higher corrosion impact. Whilst there have been several attempts to investigate the mechanical properties of several synthesized composite materials, few of these have analyzed the corrosion of such composite materials at different weight ratios. The aim of this paper is to explore the best weight ratios of a graphite/Zinc composite matrix that would yield the lowest corrosion rate for a variety of applications. The research is validated using experimentation based on six additives of graphite (1wt%, 2.5wt%, 4wt%, 6wt%, 8wt%, and 10wt%), which are used as reinforcements for a range of weight ratios. The additives were prepared using the powder metallurgy method. The corrosion rate for all specimens used was carried out at the room temperature of 27 °C. Analysis results showed that 1wt% of graphite additive has the highest corrosion resistance compared to other weight ratios tested. This has been verified by examining the microstructure of the composite using an optical microscope for 12h, 24h, and 48h of immersion time in a 1M HCl acid solution.