Influence of graphene dispersion in aluminum-graphene-composites on mechanical and electrical properties of extruded profiles

铝合金因其高的重量比强度和易于加工而广泛应用于轻量化结构。石墨烯具有优异的强度、刚度和导电性。因此，它是一种有吸引力的候选相，可作为铝的强化相。为了达到有效的强化效果，石墨烯需要均匀地分散在al基体中。该项目的总体目标是研究不同制造工艺对石墨烯分散的影响。为了在基体和石墨烯之间实现满意的键合，需要适当的官能化。此外，铝粉和石墨烯将一方面通过机械混合，另一方面通过湿化学过程混合。在预压实后，将研究挤压过程和剪切变形对石墨烯分散的影响。然后进行微观结构分析，并在拉伸试验中表征化合物的力学性能。最后，将对这些创新复合材料的导电性进行研究，以了解它们是否可以作为比传统铜更轻、更便宜的导电材料应用。

Aluminum alloys are widely applied for lightweight constructions due to their high weight- specific strength and easy processability. Graphene exhibits outstanding values of strength, stiffness and electric conductivity. Thus, it is an attractive candidate to be applied as strengthening phase in aluminum. In order to achieve an effective strengthening effect graphene needs to be dispersed homogenously in the Al-matrix. The overall aim of the project is to study the influence of different manufacturing processes on the graphene dispersion. In order to achieve a satisfying bonding between matrix and graphene a proper functionalization will be applied. Additionally, Al-powder and graphene will be mixed on the one hand mechanically and on the other hand in a wet chemical process. After pre-compacting the influence of the extrusion process as well as the shear deformation via the ECAP-process on the dispersion of graphene will be investigated. Afterwards the microstructures will be analyzed and the mechanical properties of the compounds will be characterized in tensile tests. Finally, the electric conductivity of these innovative compound materials will be examined in order to get to know whether they can be applied as lighter and cheaper conducting material in comparison to conventional copper.