Examining the mechanical characteristics and microstructure of a cast Al-5Cu-1Mg nanocomposite reinforced with graphene nanoplates

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Author

• Mohammad Alipour

Faculty of Mechanical engineering, Department of Materials Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran

10.22067/jmme.2024.85648.1132

Abstract

Microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum alloy Al-5Cu-1Mg /graphene nanoplate (GNPs) composites produced by ball milling and stir casting have been investigated. First, to improve the wettability of graphene nanosheets with melt, a powder metallurgy step was performed. Mechanical grinding was done on aluminum powder with graphene for 2 hours. Then this precursor was added to the melt. The presence of dispersed GNPs with high specific surface area significantly increases the strength of the composites. The microstructural studies of the alloy revealed that GNPs addition reduces the grain size, but adding higher GNPs content (1 wt% GNPs) does not change the grain size considerably. Further investigations on tensile tests revealed that the addition of GNPs increases ultimate tensile strength (UTS). At higher GNPs contents, the presence of graphene agglomerate on grain boundaries was found to be the favored path for crack growth. The composite containing 0.5 vol.% GNPs exhibits tensile strength of 310 MPa.

Keywords

• Metal matrix composites (MMCs)؛ Mechanical properties
• Microstructures؛ Powder processing

Main Subjects

• Casting and Solidification

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