Investigation of mechanical and wear behaviour of graphene reinforced aluminium alloy 6061 metal matrix composite

TLDR: In this article, the properties of graphene-reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) with varying weight percentages (5 and 10 wt.% graphene) of reinforcement were investigated.

Abstract: Owing to its outstanding mechanical and thermal properties, graphene has shown enormous potentials as an improvement material for composites. This paper investigates the properties of graphene-reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) with varying weight percentages (5 and 10 wt.% graphene) of reinforcement. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies of the MMC confirm the presence and distribution of graphene particles in the Al6061 matrix materials. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness, and impact strength of MMCs were studied and assessed. Tensile and impact strength of the MMC’s increased from 25 to 60 % by the addition of 10 wt.% graphene in aluminium 6061 alloys. The percentage of elongation diminished with the addition of reinforcement in the matrix. The most significant improvement in hardness can be found in additional graphene particles. Wear-test had been performed using the pin-on-disc machine at 10 N load. It was observed that the tribological behaviour of the composite improved after the addition of graphene in Al6061. K e y w o r d s: aluminium alloy 6061, graphene, tensile strength, impact strength, voids, debris