Effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of erbium-modified Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

Abstract

In this study, the effects of adding erbium and graphene (separately and in combination) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy were investigated. Initially, the primary alloy was produced by casting in the form of ingots. To add graphene to the molten alloy, these particles were milled with aluminum powder for 3 h. Then 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 wt% graphene, 0.2 wt% erbium, and finally, a combination of 0.2 wt% erbium with 0.4 wt% graphene were incorporated into the Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy. The microstructure of the produced samples was examined using optical and electron microscopes, then the tensile and wear behaviors of the produced samples were examined. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were used to investigate the mechanisms of wear and failure. The results of this study showed that the addition of erbium and graphene modified the microstructure of the alloy and reduced the grain size of the alpha-aluminum. The best tensile and wear properties were obtained for the sample containing 0.2 wt% erbium + 0.4 wt% graphene. By adding this value to the Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy, tensile strength and wear resistance were increased by 56% and 67%, respectively, compared to the control sample.

Graphical Abstract

Effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of erbium-modified Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy

Highlights

  • To study the effects of adding erbium and graphene (separately and in combination) on the mechanical properties of Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy.
  • The addition of erbium and graphene reduced the grain size of alpha-aluminum.
  • The best tensile and wear properties were obtained for the sample containing 0.2 wt% erbium + 0.4 wt% graphene.

Keywords


[1] Z. Rousta, H. Khosravi, E. Tohidlou, Effect of Er addition on the microstructural characteristics and compressive behavior of in-situ Al-15 wt% Mg2Si composites, J. Sci. Technol. Compos. 6 (2019) 242-247.
[2] N. Chawla, K.K. Chawla, Metal matrix composites, New York, Springer, 2006.
[3] A. Mazahery, M. Ostad Shabani, Microstructural and abrasive wear properties of SiC reinforced aluminum-based composite produced by compocasting, T. Nonferr. Metal. Soc. 23 (2013) 1905-1914.
[4] X. Ao, H. Xia, J. Liu, Q. He, S. Lin, A numerical study of irregular eutectic in Al-Si alloys under a large undercooling, Comp. Mater. Sci. 18 (2021) 110049.
[5] J. Rao, J. Zhang, R. Liu, J. Zheng, D. Yin, Modification of eutectic Si and the microstructure in an Al-7Si alloy with barium addition, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 728 (2018) 72-79.
[6] A. Knuutinen, K. Nogita, S.D. McDonald, A.K. Dahle, Modification of Al-Si alloys with Ba, Ca, Y and Yb, J. Light Met. 1 (2001) 229-240.
[7] N. Jamali, H. Khosravi, A. Rezvani, E. Tohidlou, J.A. Poulis, Viscoelastic and dry-sliding wear properties of basalt fiber-reinforced composites based on a surface-modified graphene oxide/epoxy matrix, J. Ind. Text. 50 (2021) 939-953
[8] S. Boppana, S. Dayanand, A. Kumar, V. Kumar, T. Aravind, Synthesis and characterization of nano graphene and ZrO2 reinforced Al 6061 metal matrix composites, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 9 (2020) 7354-7362.
[9] B. Xiong, K. Liu, Q. Yan, W. Xiong, X. Wu, Microstructure and mechanical properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced Al matrix composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering, J. Alloy. Compd. 837 (2020) 155495.
[10] M. Alipour, R. Eslami-Farsani, Synthesis and characterization of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced AA7068 matrix nanocomposites produced by liquid metallurgy route, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 706 (2017) 71-82.
[11] W. Yang, Q. Zhao, L. Xin, J. Qiao, J. Zou, P. Shao, Z. Yu, Q. Zhang, G. Wu, Microstructure and mechanical properties of graphene nanoplates reinforced pure Al matrix composites prepared by pressure infiltration method, J. Alloy. Compd. 732 (2018) 748-758.
[12] G. Li, B. Xiong, Effects of graphene content on microstructures and tensile property of graphene-nanosheets/aluminum composites, J. Alloy. Compd. 697 (2017) 31-36.
[13] J. Wang, Z. Li, G. Fan, H. Pan, Z. Chen, D. Zhang, Reinforcement with graphene nanosheets in aluminum matrix composites, Scripta Mater. 66 (2012) 594-597.
[14] S.E. Shin, H.J. Choi, J.H. Shin, D.H. Bae, Strengthening behavior of few-layered graphene/aluminum composites, Carbon, 82 (2015) 143-151.
[15] S.E. Shin, H.J. Choi, J.Y. Hwang, D.H. Bae, Strengthening behavior of carbon/metal nanocomposites, Sci. Rep.-UK, 5 (2015) 16114.
[16] H. Kwon, J. Mondal, K.A. AlOgab, V. Sammelselg, M. Takamichi, A. Kawaski, M. Leparoux, Graphene oxide-reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composite materials fabricated by powder metallurgy, J. Alloy. Compd. 698 (2017) 807-813.
[17] Z. Li, G. Fan, Q. Guo, Z. Li, Y. Su, D. Zhang, Synergistic strengthening effect of graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid structure in aluminum matrix composites, Carbon, 95 (2015) 419-427.
[18] L.A. Yolshina, R.V. Muradymov, I.V. Korsun, G.A. Yakovlev, S.V. Smirnov, Novel, Aluminum-graphene and aluminum-graphite metallic composite materials: Synthesis and properties, J. Alloy. Compd. 663 (2016) 449-459.
[19] H.M. Iftekhar Jaim, R.A. Isaacs, S.N. Rashkeev, M. Kuklja, D.P. Cole, M.C. LeMieux, I. Jasiuk, S. Nilufar, L.G. Salamanca-Riba, Sp2 carbon embedded in Al-6061 and Al-7075 alloys in the form of crystalline graphene nanoribbons, Carbon, 107 (2016) 56-66.
[20] F. Khodabakhshi, S.M. Arab, P. Svec, A.P. Gerlich, Fabrication of a new Al-Mg/graphene nanocomposite by multi-pass friction-stir processing: Dispersion, microstructure, stability, and strengthening, Mater. Charact. 132 (2017) 92-107.
[21] R. Niazi, E. Tohidlou, H. Khosravi, Microstructure-property relationships in an erbium-modified Al-Si-Mg alloy, Iran. J. Mater. Sci. Eng. 17 (2020) 50-58.
[22] Z.M. Shi, Q. Wang, G. Zhao, R.Y. Zhang, Effects of erbium modiļ¬cation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 aluminum alloys, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 626 (2015) 102-107.
[23] B. Li, H. Wang, J. Jie, Z. Wei, Effects of yttrium and heat treatment on the microstructure and tensile properties of Al-7.5Si-0.5Mg alloy, Mater. Design, 32 (2011) 1617-1622.
[24] H. Khosravi, F. Akhlaghi, Comparison of microstructure and wear resistance of A356-SiCp composites processed via compocasting and vibrating cooling slope, T. Nonferr. Metal. Soc. 25 (2015) 2490-2498.
[25] H. Ghandvar, M. Idris, N. Ahmad, N. Moslemi, Microstructure development, mechanical and tribological properties of a semisolid A356/xSiCp composite, J. Appl. Res. Technol. 15 (2017) 533-544.