Abstract
The mechanism of formation of ceramic microparticles (alumina) and graphene in a molten aluminum matrix is studied as a function of the morphology and type of precursor particles, the temperature, and the gas atmosphere. The influence of the composition of an aluminum composite material (as a function of the concentration and size of reinforcing particles) on its mechanical and corrosion properties, melting temperature, and thermal conductivity is investigated. Hybrid metallic Al–Al2O3–graphene composite materials with up to 10 wt % alumina microparticles and 0.2 wt % graphene films, which are uniformly distributed over the metal volume and are fully wetted with aluminum, are synthesized during the chemical interaction of a salt solution containing yttria and boron carbide with molten aluminum in air. Simultaneous introduction of alumina and graphene into an aluminum matrix makes it possible to produce hybrid metallic composite materials having a unique combination of the following properties: their thermal conductivity is higher than that of aluminum, their hardness and strength are increased by two times, their relative elongation during tension is increased threefold, and their corrosion resistance is higher than that of initial aluminum by a factor of 2.5–4. We are the first to synthesize an in situ hybrid Al–Al2O3–graphene composite material having a unique combination of some characteristics. This material can be recommended as a promising material for a wide circle of electrical applications, including ultrathin wires, and as a structural material for the aerospace industry, the car industry, and the shipbuilding industry.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. Singh and A. Chauhan, “Overview of wear performance of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with ceramic materials under the inuence of controllable variables,” Ceramics International 42, 56–81 (2016).
D. K. Koli, G. Agnihotri, and R. Purohit, “A review on properties, behaviour and processing methods for Alnano Al2O3 composites,” Procedia Materials Science 6, 567–589 (2014).
A. Shafiei-Zarghani, S. F. Kashani-Bozorg, and A. Zarie-Hanzaki, “Microstructures and mechanical properties of Al/Al2O3 surface nanocomposite layer produced by friction stir processing,” Materials Science and Engineering A 500, 84–91 (2009).
B. Yang, M. Sun, G. Gan, C. Xu, Z. Huang, H. Zhang, and Zh. Z. Fang, “In situ Al2O3 particle-reinforced Al and Cu matrix composites synthesized by displacement reactions,” J. Alloys and Compounds 494, 261–265 (2010).
M. Alizadeh, I. H. Akbariben, M. Ghaffari, and R. Amini, “Properties of high specific strength Al–4 wt % Al2O3/B4C nanocomposite produced by accumulative roll bonding process,” Materials and Design 50, 427–432 (2013).
K. Konopka and M. Szafran, “Fabrication of Al2O3–Al composites by infiltration method and their characteristic,” J. Materials Processing Technology 175, 266–270 (2006).
S. Gangolu, A. G. Rao, N. Prabhu, V. P. Deshmukh, and B. P. Kashyap, “Microstructure evolution and flow behavior of hot-rolled aluminum–5% B4C composite,” Materials and Design 53, 581–587 (2014).
M. C. Breslin, J. Ringnalda, L. Xu, and M. Fuller, “Processing, microstructure, and properties of co-continuous Al–Al2O3 composites,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A 195, 113–119 (1995).
Q. Liu, L. Ke, F. Liu, Ch. Huang, and Li Xing, “Microstructure and mechanical property of multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum matrix composites fabricated by friction stir processing,” Materials and Design 45, 343–348 (2013).
J. Wang, Zh. Li, G. Fan, H. Pan, Zh. Chen, and Di Zhang, “Reinforcement with graphene nanosheets in aluminum matrix composites,” Scripta Materialia 66, 594–597 (2012).
Y. Yang, Z. Zhang, and X. Zhang, “Processing map of Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al alloy matrix composites,” Materials Science and Engineering A 558, 112–118 (2012).
Y. C. Kang and S. L. Chan, “Tensile properties of nanometric Al2O3 particulate reinforced aluminum matrix composites,” Materials Chemistry and Physics 85, 438–443 (2004).
S. C. Tjong and Z. Y. Ma, “Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of in situ metal matrix composites,” Materials Science and Engineering 29, 49–113 (2000).
Y. Zhao, S. Zhang, and G. Chen, “Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by in situ Al2O3 and Al3Zr particles fabricated via magnetochemistry reaction,” Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20, 2129–2133 (2010).
P. C. Maity, S. C. Panigrahi, and P. N. Chakraborty, “Preparation of aluminium–alumina in situ particle composite by addition of titania to aluminum melt,” Scripta Metallurgica and Materialia 28, 549–552 (1993).
L. A. Yolshina, R. V. Muradymov, I. V. Korsun, G. A. Yakovlev, and S. V. Smirnov, “Novel aluminum–graphene and aluminum–graphite metallic composite materials: synthesis and properties,” J. Alloys and Compounds 663, 449–459 (2016).
Ch.-J. Shih, Q. H. Wang, Sh. Lin, K.-Ch. Park, Zh. Jin, M. S. Strano, and D. Blankschtein, “Breakdown in the wetting transparency of graphene,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 176101.
V. N. Gaitonde, S. R. Karnik, and M. S. Jayaprakash, “Some studies on wear and corrosion properties of Al5083/Al2O3/graphite hybrid composites,” J. Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering 11, 695–703 (2012).
A. Baradeswaran, A. Elaya, and Perumal, “Study on mechanical and wear properties of Al 7075/Al2O3/graphite hybrid composites,” Composites B 56, 464–471 (2014).
N. Naplocha and K. Granat, “Dry sliding of Al/Safflil C hybrid metal matrix composites,” Wear 265, 1734–1740 (2008).
L. A. Yolshina and A. G. Kvashinchev, “Chemical interaction of liquid aluminum with metal oxides in molten salts,” Materials and Design 105, 124–132 (2016).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © L.A. Elshina, R.V. Muradymov, A.G. Kvashnichev, D.I. Vichuzhanin, N.G. Molchanova, A.A. Pankratov, 2017, published in Rasplavy, 2017, No. 3, pp. 185–200.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Elshina, L.A., Muradymov, R.V., Kvashnichev, A.G. et al. Synthesis of new metal-matrix Al–Al2O3–graphene composite materials. Russ. Metall. 2017, 631–641 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0036029517080031
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0036029517080031