Non-oxidized graphene/metal composites by laser deposition additive manufacturing

Graphene-based metallic nanocomposites are promising materials for applications where tailored strength and functionality are required such as space and automotive industries. Additive manufacturing, specifically 3D printing, is currently considered a revolutionary process to tailor and engineer materials for certain applications. Herein, we report fast and reliable approach to prepare mechanically robust, ductile and high thermally conductive graphene-based aluminum nanocomposites using laser deposition manufacturing (LDM). Conventional ball milling was used to homogenously mix graphene platelets and aluminum alloy powder (AlSi7Mg) and then sintered by LDM. Structure-property relations of aluminum/graphene nanocomposites were investigated and thus LDM process was assessed. This includes morphological characterizations such as optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectrometry; and mechanical properties measurements including tensile test and Vickers hardness. The 3D printed Al-alloy/graphene nanocomposites showed increments of 60.7%, 23.03%, 193.7% and 66% in tensile strength, Young’s modulus, elongation at break and Vickers hardness in comparison with pure Al-alloy. This study proved reliability of 3D printing metallic composites with mechanical robustness and other tailored functionality such as thermal conductivity. •Mechanically robust, ductile, and high thermally conductive graphene/aluminum composites by additive manufacturing.•Under wet ball milling, the graphene is evenly wrapped on the surface of the aluminum powder particles, which is helpful for coaxial powder feeding.•This is the first time to report such ductile Al/GnP nanocomposites and yet possess high strength and stiffness.