Effects of titanium on graphene-reinforced 6061-aluminum composites: mechanical and microstructural analysis

Abstract Graphene, renowned for its exceptional load-bearing capacity and high electrical conductivity, has emerged as a highly promising reinforcing material. However, the tendency of graphene to agglomerate in aluminum composites with high graphene content has hindered further improvements in strength and ductility. To address this limitation and enhance the mechanical performance of graphene-reinforced aluminum matrix composites, titanium particles were introduced into the system. In this study, titanium-hybrid graphene-reinforced aluminum matrix composites were successfully fabricated using powder metallurgy. The influence of titanium on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites was systematically investigated. The results revealed that graphene and titanium are distributed around the aluminum matrix, with partial diffusion of titanium into the matrix leading to the formation of Al 3 Ti. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that increasing titanium content corresponded to higher peak intensity of Al 3 Ti. Furthermore, titanium addition contributed to grain refinement. As the titanium content increased, the composites exhibited progressive improvements in yield strength, tensile strength, and hardness, accompanied by a reduction in elongation. At a titanium concentration of 5 wt%, the composites achieved maximum yield strength and ultimate tensile strength values, respectively.