Processing and Characterization of Al 6061 – Graphene Nanocomposites

Abstract

As one of the most important engineering materials, Aluminum alloys and its composites have been widely used in Aerospace and automobile industriesdue to its potential properties like low density and good structural rigidity. However, the important criteria in enhancing the mechanical properties without compromising the ductility is always challenging in Aluminum and its alloys based composites. In the recent years, enormous research has been carried on ceramic based and Carbon based reinforcement materials used in Aluminum metal matrix composites. But Graphene, being one of the allotropes of carbon; although with the limited studies, shows it can be considered as nanofiller and perfect reinforcement for conventional structural materials. The current research work is carried out to process, synthesize and perform the characterization of Al 6061 matrix nanocomposites. Graphene with different filling content (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 weight%) is used use as reinforcement in the Aluminum matrix. The uniform dispersion of Graphene in the matrix is carried out by ultrasonic liquid processing method and the mixtures were consolidated by powder metallurgy (PM) approach followed by SEM and XRD analysis. Thus prepared compacts are sintered at various temperature and mechanical properties like microhardness, density are investigated as a function of sintering temperature and Graphene weight fraction. Diametrical expansions and relevant strengthening mechanism involved in the Al6061 – Graphene composites in comparison with monolithic Al 6061 alloy are discussed.