Aluminum Composites with Graphene Oxide: Comparing Liquid-Phase Mixing Methods

Abstract

In the manufacture of graphene-reinforced aluminum composites, powder metallurgy has been the primary production method, proving to be highly effective. The present work addresses the production and characterization of aluminum matrix composites reinforced with graphene-based nanomaterials. The production route employed the powder metallurgy technique and was processed in two stages: first by mixing in different liquid media, and second by using distinct mixing methods. The sintered samples from the first stage were evaluated for their density, and the sintered samples from the second stage were subjected to mechanical microhardness tests. The results of the first stage indicated that among the solvents used for mixing, acetone and ethanol stood out, providing compacts with densification above 92%. In the second stage, Al/rGr composite samples produced by the mechanical mixing method using a helical impeller showed the greatest increase in hardness, achieving a 60.5% increase compared to pure aluminum.

Keywords:
graphene; aluminum powder; composite; powder metallurgy