MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE GRAPHITE NANOPLATELETS / Al MATRIX COMPOSITES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mechanical Design and Production Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Abstract

One of the main objectives of this work is to manufacture the reinforcing graphite nanoplatelets  (CNPLs)] materials in the laboratory from the natural graphite. Also, aluminum matrix composite reinforced with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt.% graphite nanoplatelets has been fabricated by cold  pressing, followed by hot extrusion techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to examine the dispersion of CNPLs and aluminum, and to analyze the composites structure. The microstructure characteristics and the distribution of CNPLs in the aluminum matrix were investigated. The mechanical properties of the composites were recorded at room temperature. Experimental results showed that CNPLs were distributed homogeneously in the (CNPLs/Al) composites. The CNPLs content affects significantly on the mechanical properties of (CNPLs/Al) composites. Meanwhile, the 2.0 wt.% CNPLs /Al composite is found to exhibit the highest hardness, yield and ultimate tensile strengths. Also, it is noticed that the elongation percentages remain nearly constant. The extraordinary mechanical properties (yield and ultimate tensile strengths) of CNPLs may be the reason for this increments, in additional to the bridging and pulling-out role of CNPLs in the aluminum matrix composites. The tightly bonded interface between the matrix and CNPLs can also effectively transfer the load to the graphite nanoplatelets. Further enhanced strength has been achieved by reinforcing the matrix with dispersed nanoplatelets in such composites.

Keywords

ERJ. Engineering Research Journal
Volume 34, Issue 2
April 2011
Pages 189-195

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