Microstructural Study and Property Evaluation of Graphene Reinforced AA2195 Metal Matrix Composites
M. Venkatraman, M. Anthony Xavior
Abstract
• Aluminum alloy (AA2195) based metal matrix composite reinforced with graphene is developed for lightweight structural applications. • The addition of 0.5 wt% of the graphene-reinforced novel mixture and processing through the squeeze casting technique is an effective method for achieving the homogeneous dispersion of graphene particles throughout the composite. • The incorporation of graphene leads to enhanced mechanical properties of maximum hardness and UTS values of 160 HV and 560 MPa respectively, which is 14 % and 22 % more compared to monolithic alloys. This study investigates the development of aluminum alloy (AA2195) based composites reinforced with graphene for lightweight structural applications. The fabrication process involves a combination of squeeze casting and hot rolling techniques to optimize the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite material. The incorporation of graphene into the aluminum matrix aimed to enhance mechanical strength, reduce weight ratio, and improve overall performance. The various characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron Microscopy (TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were used to analyze and confirm the presence of graphene within the composite. The resulting material exhibits refined grain structure, fine-grained boundaries, and strong interfacial bonding between aluminum grains and graphene particles. These enhancements are attributed to the synergistic effects of squeeze casting and hot rolling processes, as well as the beneficial properties of graphene reinforcement.