Using graphene for the development of novel aluminum alloys with high thermal conductivityand mechanical properties

技术创新依赖于材料的可用性， 热、循环或环境条件。全球交通运输业正朝着 车辆电气化。然而，为了支持这一创新，需要具有目前不可用的机械、电气和热性能的新型合金。在这个NSERC联盟计划中，一部小说 基于先进粉末冶金工艺（放电等离子烧结，SPS）的多工艺方法将被 与传统的金属铸造工艺相结合，以开发具有石墨烯基添加剂的可铸造铝合金。 拟议的研究建立在英国大学研究人员之间的强大伙伴关系基础上 哥伦比亚、Nemak Canada（汽车市场铝铸件供应商）和ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.（采矿公司和石墨烯化合物生产商）。众所周知，石墨烯具有极好的 机械和热电性能。然而，它的整合（就像其他纳米材料一样） 迄今为止，大规模铸造还没有成功。支持者最近的工作表明，如果使用SPS技术，石墨烯基添加剂可以有效地整合到铝铸件中。因此，该研究计划的重点是开创性的行业驱动的研究，包括：1）确定最佳的石墨烯添加剂（例如，氧化石墨烯（GO）、还原的GO、纯石墨烯），2）含石墨烯的母合金的SPS加工，3）实验室规模的金属铸造实验以确定最佳添加水平、铸造条件和共混程序，以及最后，4）发动机缸体的全规模制造， 使用石墨烯基添加剂的气缸盖。 这项研究有可能从根本上改变运输行业使用的材料。通过开发具有优异机械和热电性能的超轻铝合金，Nemak和ZEN将引领加拿大制造业和采矿业的技术创新，并支持全球运输业向电动运输方式的必然转变。

Technological innovation relies on the availability of materials capable of sustaining diverse mechanical, thermal, cyclic or environmental conditions. There is a global shift in the transportation industries towards electrification of vehicles. To support this innovation, however, novel alloys with currently unavailable mechanical, electrical and thermal properties are required. In this NSERC-Alliance program, a novel multi-process approach based on advanced powder metallurgy process (Spark Plasma Sintering, SPS) will be combined with a traditional metalcasting process to develop castable Al alloys with graphene-based additives. The proposed research builds on a strong partnership between researchers from The University of British Columbia, Nemak Canada (supplier of aluminum (Al) castings to the automotive market) and ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (mining company and producer of graphene compounds). Graphene is known to have superb mechanical and thermo-electrical properties. However, its integration (much like other nanomaterials) into large-scale castings has not been successful to-date. Recent work by the proponents showed, that if the SPS technology is used, graphene-based additives can be efficiently integrated into aluminum castings. As a result, this research program focuses on pioneering industry-driven research consisting of: 1) Identifying optimal graphene additives (e.g., graphene oxide (GO), reduced-GO, pure graphene), 2) SPS processing of graphene containing master alloys, 3) Lab-scale metalcasting experimentation to determine optimal addition levels, casting conditions and blending procedures, and finally, 4) Full-scale manufacture of engine blocks and cylinder heads with graphene-based additives. This research has the potential to fundamentally transform the materials used in the transportation industries. By developing ultralight Al alloys with superb mechanical and thermo-electric properties, Nemak and ZEN will spearhead the Canadian manufacturing and mining sectors in technological innovation, and support the inevitable global shift in the transportation industries towards electric modes of transport.