Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Graphene Oxide Reinforced Aluminum Alloy 6061 Composite Fabricated by Accumulative Roll Bonding

This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of aluminum alloy matrix composites reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) using the Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB) process. Annealed Al 6061 alloy sheets were processed through five ARB passes, with GO reinforcement applied during the initial passes. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed effective mitigation of GO agglomeration and improved interface bonding due to micro-level material mixing. Raman spectroscopy confirmed strong interaction between GO and the Al alloy matrix, evidenced by increased D and D’ bands and enhanced 2D band symmetry. Mechanical testing showed around 338.37% increase in yield strength and 86.42% improvement in hardness for the ARB-processed Al6061/GO composite (0.2wt%) compared to As received Al6061 and around 14.15% increase in yield strength and 17.23% improvement in hardness for the ARB-Processed Al/GO composite (0.2wt%) compared to without reinforced ARB processed Al6061 samples after 5Pass. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated increased dislocation density, corroborating the observed mechanical properties enhancements. Fracture surface analysis revealed reduced elongation with the presence of deep dimples, highlighting a trade-off between strength and ductility. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of ARB in integrating GO into the Al 6061 matrix, achieving improved mechanical performance and interfacial bonding, and underscoring its potential for advanced composite materials.