Jayaseelan Joel, Pazhani Ashwath, Michael Anthony Xavior, Paulchamy Jeyapandiarajan, Batako Andre, Hosamane Guruswamy Prashantha Kumar
School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India.
School of Mechanical Engineering, Coventry University, Priory St, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK.
Materials (Basel). 2022 Aug 26;15(17):5907. doi: 10.3390/ma15175907.
From the aspect of exploring the alternative lightweight composite material for the aerospace launch vehicle external fuel tank structural components, the current research work studies three different grades of Aluminium alloy reinforced with varying graphene weight percentages that are processed through powder metallurgy (P/M) route. The prepared green compacts composite ingots are subjected to microwave processing (Sintering), hot extruded, and solution treated (T6). The developed Nano-graphene reinforced composite is studied further for the strength-microstructural integrity. The nature of the graphene reinforcement and its chemical existence within the composite is further studied, and it is found that hot extruded solution treated (HEST) composite exhibited low levels of carbide (AlC) formations, as composites processed by microwaves. Further, the samples of different grades reinforced with varying graphene percentages are subjected to mechanical characterisation tests such as the tensile test and hardness. It is found that 2 wt% graphene reinforced composites exhibited enhanced yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. Microstructural studies and fracture morphology are studied, and it is proven that composite processed via the microwave method has exhibited good ductile behaviour and promising failure mechanisms at higher load levels.
从探索用于航天运载火箭外部燃料箱结构部件的替代轻质复合材料的角度出发,当前的研究工作研究了通过粉末冶金(P/M)路线加工的、具有不同石墨烯重量百分比的三种不同等级铝合金。制备的生坯复合材料锭经过微波处理(烧结)、热挤压和固溶处理(T6)。对开发的纳米石墨烯增强复合材料进一步研究其强度-微观结构完整性。进一步研究了石墨烯增强体的性质及其在复合材料中的化学存在形式,发现热挤压固溶处理(HEST)复合材料中碳化物(AlC)的形成水平低于微波处理的复合材料。此外,对不同等级、不同石墨烯百分比增强的样品进行拉伸试验和硬度测试等力学性能表征试验。发现2 wt%石墨烯增强复合材料的屈服强度和极限抗拉强度有所提高。进行了微观结构研究和断口形貌分析,结果证明通过微波方法加工的复合材料在较高载荷水平下表现出良好的韧性行为和有前景的失效机制。