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

Zeeshan Baig; Othman Mamat; Mazli Mustapha; Asad Mumtaz; Sadaqat Ali; Mansoor Sarfraz

doi:10.1007/s12613-018-1618-3

Volume 25 Issue 6

Jun. 2018

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2018 > 25(6): 704-715

Zeeshan Baig, Othman Mamat, Mazli Mustapha, Asad Mumtaz, Sadaqat Ali, and Mansoor Sarfraz, Surfactant-decorated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced aluminum nanocomposites: sintering effects on hardness and wear, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 6, pp. 704-715. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1618-3

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Zeeshan Baig, Othman Mamat, Mazli Mustapha, Asad Mumtaz, Sadaqat Ali, and Mansoor Sarfraz, Surfactant-decorated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced aluminum nanocomposites: sintering effects on hardness and wear, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 6, pp. 704-715. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1618-3

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Research Article

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

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Corresponding authors:
Zeeshan Baig E-mail: meteng81@gmail.com

Othman Mamat E-mail: drothman_mamat@utp.edu.my
Received: 8 October 2017; Revised: 19 December 2017; Accepted: 2 March 2018

Abstract

Abstract

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.
- graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs);
- aluminum nanocomposites;
- surfactant;
- hardness, dispersion;
- ultra-sonication, sintering effects

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References

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