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

铝合金因其高的比强度和易于加工而被广泛应用于轻质结构。石墨烯具有优异的强度、刚性和导电性。因此，它是一种很有吸引力的铝强化相。为了达到有效的强化效果，石墨烯需要均匀地分散在铝基中。该项目的总体目标是研究不同制造工艺对石墨烯分散性的影响。为了实现石墨烯与基质之间的良好结合，需要进行适当的官能化处理。此外，铝粉和石墨烯将一方面机械混合，另一方面在湿化学过程中混合。在预压实后，将研究挤压过程以及ECAP过程中的剪切变形对石墨烯分散的影响。然后对复合材料的微观结构进行分析，并在拉伸试验中对其力学性能进行表征。最后，将测试这些创新复合材料的导电性，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。

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.