US 11,739,424 B2
Graphene reinforced aluminum matrix composite with high electrical conductivity and preparation method thereof
Haitao Duan, Wuhan (CN); Yinhua Li, Wuhan (CN); Jiesong Tu, Wuhan (CN); Jian Li, Wuhan (CN); Xingeng Li, Wuhan (CN); Zhibin Fan, Wuhan (CN); Dan Jia, Wuhan (CN); Shengpeng Zhan, Wuhan (CN); Tian Yang, Wuhan (CN); Yunhu Ding, Wuhan (CN); and Lixin Ma, Wuhan (CN)
Assigned to WUHAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS PROTECTION, Wuhan (CN)
Filed by Wuhan Research Institute of Materials Protection, Wuhan (CN)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,235.
Claims priority of application No. 202110917018.8 (CN), filed on Aug. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0086290 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. C23C 18/31 (2006.01); C23C 18/16 (2006.01)
CPC C23C 18/31 (2013.01) [C23C 18/1639 (2013.01); C23C 18/1691 (2013.01); C23C 18/1692 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
 
1. A preparation method of a graphene reinforced aluminum matrix composite, comprising:
preparation of raw materials, comprising: drying graphene, aluminum powder and aluminum block in a drying oven to remove moisture;
obtaining aluminum coated graphene powder by plating the aluminum powder on a surface of the graphene through electroless plating;
melting the aluminum block into aluminum liquid in a crucible furnace and injecting first inert gas for protection;
heating a forming device to a temperature lower than a melting point of aluminum;
alternately pouring the aluminum liquid into a forming mold of the forming device to form an aluminum liquid solidification layer and laying a layer of the aluminum coated graphene powder on the aluminum liquid solidification layer to form an aluminum coated graphene powder layer until the forming mold is fully filled, thereby forming a sandwich structure with a first layer and a last layer both being the aluminum liquid solidification layers;
extruding the sandwich structure into a rectangular test block by using a press;
heating the rectangular test block to a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 600° C. in a heating furnace, keeping the heated rectangular test block in the heating furnace to maintain the temperature for a preset time, and performing forging treatment on the rectangular test block to obtain a forged rectangular test block;
after cooling the forged rectangular test block to room temperature, performing longitudinal cold deformation on the forged rectangular test block to obtain a deformed rectangular test block; and
performing annealing treatment on the deformed rectangular test block under a protection of second inert gas to obtain the graphene reinforced aluminum matrix composite.