Effect of sintering temperature on pore ratio and mechanical properties of composite structure in nano graphene reinforced ZA27 based composites

Nano graphene platelet(Gr) reinforced nano composites with a zinc–aluminum alloy(ZA27) matrix were produced by powder metallurgy at four different mass ratios(0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt%, 2.0 wt% and 4.0 wt%) and three different sintering temperatures(425, 450, and 475℃). In order to investigate the effect of sintering temperatures and nano graphene reinforcement materials on the composite structure, the microstructures of the composite samples were investigated and their densities were determined with a scanning electron microscope. Hardness, transverse rupture,and abrasion wear tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties. According to the test results, the porosity increased and the mechanical strength of the nano composites decreased as the amount of nano graphene reinforcement in ZA27 increased. However, when the composites produced in different reinforcement ratios were evaluated, the increase in sintering temperature increased the mechanical structure by positively affecting the composite structure.     

Graphene-reinforced aluminum matrix composites prepared by spark plasma sintering

Graphene-reinforced 7055 aluminum alloy composites with different contents of graphene were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The structure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. Testing results show that the hardness, compressive strength, and yield strength of the composites are improved with the addition of 1wt% graphene. A clean, strong interface is formed between the metal matrix and graphene via metallurgical bonding on atomic scale. Harmful aluminum carbide (Al₄C₃) is not formed during SPS processing. Further addition of graphene (above 1wt%) results in the deterioration in mechanical properties of the composites. The agglomeration of graphene plates is exacerbated with increasing graphene content, which is the main reason for this deterioration.     

Investigation on microstructural, mechanical and electrochemical properties of aluminum composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets

In present study, the microstructure, mechanical and electrochemical properties of aluminum–graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composites were investigated before and after extrusion. The contents of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were varied from 0.25 to 1.0 wt.% in aluminum matrix. The composites were fabricated thorough powder metallurgy method, and the experimental results revealed that Al-0.25%GNPs composite showed better mechanical properties compared with pure Al, Al-0.50%GNPs and Al-0.1.0%GNPs composites. Before extrusion, the Al-0.25%GNPs composite showed ~13.5% improvement in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and ~50% enhancement in failure strain over monolithic matrix. On the other hand, Al-0.50%GNPs and Al-0.1.0%GNPs composites showed the tensile strength lower than monolithic matrix. No significant change was observed in 0.2% yield strength (YS) of the composites. However, the extruded materials showed different trends. The 0.2%YS of composites increased with increase in GNPs filler weight fractions. Surprisingly, UTS of composites with 0.25 and 0.50% GNPs was lower than monolithic matrix. The failure strain of the baseline matrix was enhanced by ~46% with 0.25% graphene nanoplatelets. The superior mechanical properties (in terms of failure strain) of the Al-0.25%GNPs composite maybe attributed to 2-D structure, high surface area and curled nature of graphene. In addition, the corrosion resistance of pure Al and its composites reinforced with 0.5 and 1.0 wt% GNPs was also investigated. It was found that the corrosion rate increased considerably by the presence of GNPs.     

Effect of TiB2 content on microstructure and properties of in situ Ti-TiB composites

This study determined the optimal concentration of titanium diboride (TiB₂) particles for the development of in situ titanium-titanium boride (Ti-TiB) metal matrix composites (MMCs) prepared by a conventional powder metallurgy route to be used for industrial applications. The effect of concentration of TiB₂ particles was studied by reinforcing TiB₂ powder in different mass fractions (2wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, and 20wt%) into pure Ti powder during the fabrication process. The MMCs were sintered at high temperatures under vacuum. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed the formation of needle-shaped TiB whiskers, indicating that in situ reaction occurred during vacuum sintering of the powder compacts. All the composite samples had a high sintered density, and the hardness of the composites increased with an increase in the mass fraction of reinforcement. Mechanical and tribological properties such as flexural strength, impact, and wear properties were determined and found to be dependent on the mass fraction of the reinforcement. However, the mechanism for the in situ reaction needs further investigation by high-energy in situ X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Sintering behavior,microstructure and properties of TiC-FeCr hard alloy

TiC based cermets were produced with FeCr, as a binder, by conventional P/M (powder metallurgy) to near 〉97% of the theoretical density. Sintering temperature significantly affects the mechanical properties of the composite. The sintering temperature of 〉1360℃ caused severe chemical reaction between TiC particles and the binder phase. In the TiC-FeCr cermets, the mechanical properties did not vary linearly with the carbide content. Optimum mechanical properties were found in the composite containing 57wt% TiC reinforcement, when sintered at 1360℃ for 1 h. Use of carbon as an additive enhanced the mechanical properties of the composites. Cermets containing carbon as an additive with 49wt% TiC exhibited attractive mechanical properties. The microstructure of the developed composite contained less or no debonding, representing good wettabifity of the binder with TiC particles. Homogeneous distribution of the TiC particles ensured the presence of isotropic mechanical properties and homogeneous distribution of stresses in the composite. Preliminary experiments for evaluation of the oxidation resistance of FeCr bonded TiC cermets indicate that they are more resistant than WC-Co hardmetals.     

Mechanical properties and friction behaviors of CNT/AlSi<Subscript>10</Subscript>Mg composites produced by spark plasma sintering

The mechanical properties and friction behaviors of CNT/AlSi₁₀Mg composites produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS) were investigated. The results showed that the densities of the sintered composites gradually increased with increasing sintering temperature and that the highest microhardness and compressive strength were achieved in the specimen sintered at 450℃. CNTs dispersed uniformly in the AlSi₁₀Mg matrix when the addition of CNTs was less than 1.5wt%. However, when the addition of CNTs exceeded 1.5wt%, the aggregation of CNTs was clearly observed. Moreover, the mechanical properties (including the densities, compressive strength, and microhardness) of the composites changed with CNT content and reached a maximum value when the CNT content was 1.5wt%. Meanwhile, the minimum average friction coefficient and wear rate of the CNT/AlSi₁₀Mg composites were obtained with 1.0wt% CNTs.     

Mechanical properties and friction behaviors of CNT/AlSi_(10)Mg composites produced by spark plasma sintering

The mechanical properties and friction behaviors of CNT/AlSi_(10)Mg composites produced by spark plasma sintering(SPS) were investigated.The results showed that the densities of the sintered composites gradually increased with increasing sintering temperature and that the highest microhardness and compressive strength were achieved in the specimen sintered at 450°C.CNTs dispersed uniformly in the AlSi_(10)Mg matrix when the addition of CNTs was less than 1.5wt%.However,when the addition of CNTs exceeded 1.5wt%,the aggregation of CNTs was clearly observed.Moreover,the mechanical properties(including the densities,compressive strength,and microhardness) of the composites changed with CNT content and reached a maximum value when the CNT content was 1.5wt%.Meanwhile,the minimum average friction coefficient and wear rate of the CNT/AlSi_(10)Mg composites were obtained with 1.0wt% CNTs.     

Fabrication of homogeneously dispersed graphene/Al composites by solution mixing and powder metallurgy

Graphene-reinforced aluminum (Al) matrix composites were successfully prepared via solution mixing and powder metallurgy in this study. The mechanical properties of the composites were studied using microhardness and tensile tests. Compared to the pure Al alloy, the graphene/Al composites showed increased strength and hardness. A tensile strength of 255 MPa was achieved for the graphene/Al composite with only 0.3wt% graphene, which has a 25% increase over the tensile strength of the pure Al matrix. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the morphologies, chemical compositions, and microstructures of the graphene and the graphene/Al composites. On the basis of fractographic evidence, a relevant fracture mechanism is proposed.     

Mechanical properties and microstructure of composites produced by recycling metal chips

In this study, the processing and mechanical properties of porous metal matrix composites (MMCs) composed of spheroidal cast iron chips (GGG40) and bronze chips (CuSn10) and formed by hot isostatic pressing were investigated. Bronze chips (CuSn10) were used as a matrix component, and spheroidal cast iron (GGG40) chips were used as a reinforcement component. The MMCs were produced with different CuSn10 contents (90wt%, 80wt%, 70wt%, and 60wt%). The hot isostatic pressing process was performed under three different pressures and temperatures. The produced MMCs were characterized using density tests, Brinell hardness tests, and compression tests. In addition, the consolidation mechanism was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The test results were compared with those for bulk CuSn10 and bulk GGG40. Mechanical tests results revealed that the metallic chips can be recycled by using hot pressing and that the mechanical properties of the produced MMCs were similar to those of bulk CuSn10. XRD and microscopy studies showed that no intermetallic compounds formed between the metallic chips. The results showed that the CuSn10 and GGG40 chips were consolidated by mechanical interlocking.     

Fabrication of solid-phase-sintered SiC-based composites with short carbon fibers

Solid-phase-sintered SiC-based composites with short carbon fibers (Csf/SSiC) in concentrations ranging from 0 to 10wt% were prepared by pressureless sintering at 2100°C. The phase composition, microstructure, density, and flexural strength of the composites with different Csf contents were investigated. SEM micrographs showed that the Csf distributed in the SSiC matrix homogeneously with some gaps at the fiber/matrix interfaces. The densities of the composites decreased with increasing Csf content. However, the bending strength first increased and then decreased with increasing Csf content, reaching a maximum value of 390 MPa at a Csf content of 5wt%, which was 60 MPa higher than that of SSiC because of the pull-out strengthening mechanism. Notably, Csf was graphitized and damaged during the sintering process because of the high temperature and reaction with boron derived from the sintering additive B₄C; this graphitization degraded the fiber strengthening effect.     

Influence of Dispersion of Nano-Zn0 Particles in Polymer Matrices on Properties of Relevant Nano Composite Fibers

The surface-passivated and non-surface-passivated zinc oxide nano-particles （marked as s-nanoZnO and ns-nanoZnO respectively） were evenly dispersed in polymer solutions with the aid of ultrasonic vibration to prepare nanocomposite film by free casting and to prepare nanocomposite fibers by wet spinning and to prepare nancomposites coating by surface smearing. The dispersion of s-nanoZnO and nsnanoZnO in PAN matrix were observed by transmittance electron microscopy, the mechanical properties of the relevant compesite samples were studied by INSRTON tensile strength tester. It was found that s-nanoZnO behaves a well-dispersed morphology in PAN films and fibers when its concentration was 2 wt% but ns-nanoZnO nano particles agglomerate into larger congeries in PAN films. It means that the surface-passivated process oft zinc oxide nano. particles was effective to disperse. The relative intensity and elonsation at break of s-nanoZnO-PAN composite fibers show maximum values with the increase of nano particle content in compesites （from 0 wt% to 2 wt% of s- nanoZnO）. The elasticity of the composite fibers increases whereas their modulus declines. Balanced the changes of the properties mentioned above, 2 wt% s-nanoZnO in PAN matrix is a proper content for the composite fibers spun by wet spinning. The result of surface smearing test means that the reactim between s-nanoZnO and polymer can be indicated by the color of nanocomposite surface coat on fibers.     

机械合金化法制备的Cu/SiC纳米复合材料的组织、热性能和力学性能评估

Nano-sized silicon carbide (SiC: 0wt%, 1wt%, 2wt%, 4wt%, and 8wt%) reinforced copper (Cu) matrix nanocomposites were manufactured, pressed, and sintered at 775 and 875°C in an argon atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy were performed to characterize the microstructural evolution. The density, thermal expansion, mechanical, and electrical properties were studied. XRD analyses showed that with increasing SiC content, the microstrain and dislocation density increased, while the crystal size decreased. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the nanocomposites was less than that of the Cu matrix. The improvement in the CTE with increasing sintering temperature may be because of densification of the microstructure. Moreover, the mechanical properties of these nanocomposites showed noticeable enhancements with the addition of SiC and sintering temperatures, where the microhardness and apparent strengthening efficiency of nanocomposites containing 8wt% SiC and sintered at 875°C were 958.7 MPa and 1.07 vol%?1, respectively. The electrical conductivity of the sample slightly decreased with additional SiC and increased with sintering temperature. The prepared Cu/SiC nanocomposites possessed good electrical conductivity, high thermal stability, and excellent mechanical properties.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the preparation of Cu–Ti3SiC2 metal matrix composite

Ti3SiC2 has the potential to replace graphite as reinforcing particles in Cu matrix composites for applications in brush,electrical contacts and electrode materials.In this paper the fabrication of Cu-Ti3SiC2 metal matrix composites prepared by warm compaction powder metallurgy forming and spark plasma sintering(SPS) was studied.The stability of Ti3SiC2 at different sintering temperatures was also studied.The present experimental results indicate that the reinforcing particles in Cu-Ti3SiC2 composites are not stable at and above 800℃.The decomposition of Ti3SiC2 will lead to the formation of TiC and/or other carbides and TiSi2.If purity is the major concern,the processing and servicing temperatures of the Cu-Ti3SiC2 composite should be limited to 750℃ or lower.The composites prepared by warm compaction forming and SPS sintering at 750℃ have lower density when compared with the composites prepared by SPS sintering at 950℃,but their electrical resistivity values are very close to each other and even lower.     

Effect of MWCNT reinforcement on the precipitation-hardening behavior of AA2219

Aluminum alloy matrix composites have found a predominant place in research, and their applications are explored in almost all industries. The aerospace industry has been using precipitation-hardenable alloys in structural applications. However, insufficient literature is available on the influence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on precipitation-hardenable alloy composite materials; thus, this work was designed to elucidate the effect on MWCNT reinforcement on AA2219 with and without precipitation hardening. Reinforcement with MWCNTs has been reported to accelerate precipitation and to achieve greater hardness within a much shorter time. The addition of 0.75wt% MWCNTs resulted in maximal hardness at 90 min, which is approximately 27% of improvement over the maximum hardness achieved by the corresponding monolithic alloy after 10 h of aging. The sample reinforced with 0.75wt% MWCNTs showed an improvement of 82% in hardness by solutionizing and aging compared to that achieved by sintering.     

Mechanical properties of carbonfi ber/cellulose composite papers modified by hot-melting fibers

Carbon fiber(CF)/cellulose(CLS) composite papers were prepared by papermaking techniques and hot-melting fibers were used for modification. The mechanical properties of the obtained composite papers with different CF,CLS and hot-melting fiber ratios were studied and further discussed. It is observed that,for both CF/CLS composite papers and those modified by hot-melting fibers,the normal stress firstly increases and then declines with the addition of carbon fibers. The results also show that with the addition of hot-melting fibers,the modified papers exhibit enhanced mechanical performance compared to CF/CLS composite papers. Through SEM characterization,it is confirmed that the improvement of mechanical properties attributes to the reinforcement of adhesive binding at the fiber overlap nodes. Also,through four-probe method,the resistivity and the electrical performance of the modified and unmodified papers were characterized and the result shows that the hot-melting fiber modification brings no harm to the electrical properties.     

放电等离子烧结制备石墨烯纳米片增强7075铝合金复合材料的力学性能

A 0.3wt% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced 7075 aluminum alloy matrix (7075 Al) composite was fabricated by spark plasma sintering and its strength and wear resistance were investigated. The microstructures of the internal structure, the friction surface, and the wear debris were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Compared with the original 7075 aluminum alloy, the hardness and elastic modulus of the 7075 Al/GNPs composite were found to have increased by 29% and 36%, respectively. The results of tribological experiments indicated that the composite also exhibited a lower wear rate than the original 7075 aluminum alloy.     

Surfactant-decorated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced aluminum nanocomposites: sintering effects on hardness and wear

The exceptional properties of graphene make it ideal as a reinforcement to enhance the properties of aluminum matrices and this critically depends on uniform dispersion. In this study, the dispersion issue was addressed by sonication and non-covalent surface functionalization of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) using two types of surfactant: anionic (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfate (SDBS)) and non-ionic polymeric (ethyl cellulose (EC)). After colloidal mixing with Al powder, consolidation was performed at two sintering temperatures (550 and 620℃). The structure, density, mechanical and wear properties of the nanocomposite samples were investigated and compared with a pure Al and a pure GNPs/Al nanocomposite sample. Noticeably, EC-based 0.5wt% GNPs/Al samples showed the highest increment of 31% increase in hardness with reduced wear rate of 98.25% at 620℃, while a 22% increase in hardness with reduced wear rate of 96.98% at 550℃ was observed, as compared to pure Al. Microstructural analysis and the overall results validate the use of EC-based GNPs/Al nanocomposites as they performed better than pure Al and pure GNPs/Al nanocomposite at both sintering temperatures.     

Effect of chemical vapor infiltration treatment on the wave-absorbing performance of carbon fiber/cement composites

Short carbon fibers were treated at high temperatures around 1100℃ through chemical vapor infiltration technology. A thinner layer ofpyrocarbon was deposited on the fiber surface. The dispersion of carbon fibers in a cement matrix and the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/cement composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other tests. The reflec- tivity of electromagnetic waves by the composites was measured in the frequency range of 8.0-18 GHz for different carbon fiber contents of 0.2wt%, 0.4wt%, 0.6wt%, and 1.0wt%. The results show that the reflectivity tends to increase with the increase of fiber content above 0.4wt%. The minimum reflectivity is -19.3 dB and the composites exhibit wave-absorbing performances. After pyrocarbon is deposited on the fiber, all the refiectivity data are far greater. They are all above -10 dB and display mainly wave-reflecting performances.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-particle-strengthening tri-metal Al/Cu/Ni composite produced by accumulative roll bonding process

In this study, a multilayer Al/Ni/Cu composite reinforced with SiC particles was produced using an accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process with different cycles. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this composite were investigated using optical and scanning microscopy and hardness and tensile testing. The results show that by increasing the applied strain, the Al/Ni/Cu multilayer composite converted from layer features to near a particle-strengthening characteristic. After the fifth ARB cycle, a composite with a uniform distribution of reinforcements (Cu, Ni, and SiC) was fabricated. The tensile strength of the composite increased from the initial sandwich structure to the first ARB cycle and then decreased from the first to the third ARB cycle. Upon reaching five ARB cycles, the tensile strength of the composite increased again. The variation in the elongation of the composite exhibited a tendency similar to that of its tensile strength. It is observed that with increasing strain, the microhardness values of the Al, Cu, and Ni layers increased, and that the dominant fracture mechanisms of Al and Cu were dimple formation and ductile fracture. In contrast, brittle fracture in specific plains was the main characteristic of Ni fractures.     

Surfactant-decorated graphite nanoplatelets(GNPs) reinforced aluminum nanocomposites: sintering effects on hardness and wear

The exceptional properties of graphene make it ideal as a reinforcement to enhance the properties of aluminum matrices and this critically depends on uniform dispersion. In this study, the dispersion issue was addressed by sonication and non-covalent surface functionalization of graphite nanoplatelets(GNPs) using two types of surfactant: anionic(sodium dodecyl benzene sulfate(SDBS)) and non-ionic polymeric(ethyl cellulose(EC)). After colloidal mixing with Al powder, consolidation was performed at two sintering temperatures(550 and 620°C). The structure, density, mechanical and wear properties of the nanocomposite samples were investigated and compared with a pure Al and a pure GNPs/Al nanocomposite sample. Noticeably, EC-based 0.5 wt% GNPs/Al samples showed the highest increment of 31% increase in hardness with reduced wear rate of 98.25% at 620°C, while a 22% increase in hardness with reduced wear rate of 96.98% at 550°C was observed, as compared to pure Al. Microstructural analysis and the overall results validate the use of EC-based GNPs/Al nanocomposites as they performed better than pure Al and pure GNPs/Al nanocomposite at both sintering temperatures.