The fabrication of graphene-reinforced Al-based nanocomposites using high-pressure torsion

Metal matrix nanocomposites were fabricated by high-pressure torsion (HPT) using 5% graphene nanoplates as a reinforcement contained within an Al matrix. Powders were mixed and compacted at room temperature and then processed by HPT at three different temperatures of 298, 373 and 473 K. After processing, microstructural observations were undertaken to reveal the distributions of graphene in the matrix, the grain refinement in the aluminium and the nature of the graphene-aluminium interfaces. Tests were performed to measure the microhardness, the tensile stress-strain curves and the electrical conductivity. The results show that processing by HPT is advantageous because it avoids the sintering and high temperature deformation associated with other processing routes. (C) 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd.