Mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical behavior of hybrid aluminum matrix composite containing boron carbide (B4C) and graphene nanoplatelets

• Published in: Journal of materials research Vol. 34; no. 18; pp. 3116 - 3129
• Main Authors: Abbas shafqat, Qaisar, Rafi-ud-din, Shahzad, Muhammad, Khan, Mahmood, Mehmood, Sultan, Syed, Waqar Adil, Basit, Abdul, Mehboob, Nasir, Ali, Tahir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 30.09.2019; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Aluminum composites; Aluminum matrix composites; Applied and Technical Physics; Biomaterials; Boron; Boron carbide; Carbon; Coefficient of friction; Composite materials; Compressive strength; Corrosion effects; Corrosion resistance; Corrosive wear; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrode polarization; Graphene; Graphite; Hardness; Inorganic Chemistry; Investigations; Lubrication; Mapping; Materials Engineering; Materials research; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Nanotechnology; Novel Synthesis and Processing of Metals; Polymer matrix composites; Powder metallurgy; Scanning electron microscopy; Self lubrication; Silicon carbide; Solid lubricants; Spectrum analysis; Tribology; Wear mechanisms; Wear rate; wear; corrosion; microstructure; metal matrix composites; mechanical properties
• ISSN: 0884-2914; 2044-5326
• DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2019.242

In the present work, mechanical, tribological, and electrochemical behaviors of Al Alloy 6061–(0–10) % B4C–(0.25–1.2) % graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composites, prepared by a combination of solution mixing and powder metallurgy, were investigated. Properties such as hardness, compressive strength, wear rates, and coefficient of friction (COF) were used to investigate the effects of GNPs on mechanical and self-lubricating tribological behavior. The corrosion resistance of composites was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance techniques. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and EDS mapping were employed to study the distribution, the fracture profile, and wear mechanism. The AA 6061–10% B4C–0.6% GNPs composites exhibited sharp increase in hardness and compressive strength and significant decrease in wear rates and COF. However, for GNPs contents exceeding over 0.6 wt%, mechanical properties and wear performances deteriorated. Pulling out of sheared pultruded GNPs was observed during the fracture of composites. Worn surfaces of GNPs-containing composites showed the smeared graphene layer with some macro-cracks exhibiting delamination wear. It was found that the corrosion inhibition efficiency of GNPs was more pronounced in H3BO3 environment than in NaCl solution.