Characteristic investigation on copper graphene composite fabricated through flake powder metallurgy

Abstract

Nowadays, Copper based materials replace the applications of pure newlinecopper in industries due to the need for high mechanical properties and wear newlineresistance along with conductivity. To provide the solution to obtain a high performance newlinecomposite, the researchers show interest in nanomaterials. Even newlinemany reinforcements at the nano-level improve the properties of copper newlinecomposite among the carbon-based materials. Carbon family nano material newlinegraphene shows much improvement in properties of copper composite as newlinereinforcement. Flake copper powder is obtained from spherical copper powder by newlineusing low-speed ball milling (LSBM) Process. The milling of copper powders newlineis performed for 8 hours in the presence of toluene. The microstructure newlineexamination confirms the copper powder transformation to a flake shape. The newlinegraphene is added to copper on a weight basis. The graphene in the form of newlinegraphene oxide is added to form a copper-graphene composite by thermal newlinereduction technique.The objectives of this study are focused on the properties of copper graphene composite by varying the sintering time, sintering temperature and newlinegraphene content. In the present investigation, the flake powder metallurgy newlinetechnique is used to improve the properties of the copper-graphene composite. newlineIt is a modified technique of powder metallurgy where a flake shaped metal newlinepowder is used to prepare composites. The amount of reinforcement need newlinemore concentration due to the agglomeration nature of GNS. If Higher newlinegraphene present in copper-graphene composites, The mechanical properties newlineare reduced as a result of agglomeration. So the graphene content in coppergraphene newlinecomposites varies from 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt% and 3 wt%, Due to newlinethis technique, we can achieve uniform distribution of graphene which leads newlineto increased strength and ductility of composites. Sintering time varies from newline60 minutes, 75 minutes and 90 minutes and sintering temperature as 750°C, newline800°C and 850°C. newline newline