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Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Graphene Reinforced Silicon Carbide Nanocomposites

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Composite Materials and Joining Technologies for Composites, Volume 7

Abstract

This study investigates the possibility of incorporating graphene nanoplatelets as a nanofiller in silicon carbide matrix composites for improvement in mechanical properties. Silicon carbide, an advanced ceramic material, is considered suitable for structural applications due to its properties that include high hardness, toughness at high temperatures, high thermal conductivity, and chemical resistance. However, there has been a drive to improve strength and toughness to make these materials more reliable for engineering applications. Reinforcing these materials with appropriate nanofillers has the potential to significantly improve strength and toughness. These nanofillers can provide a variety of extrinsic toughening mechanisms. Nonetheless, the dispersion of nanoscale fillers in ceramic matrix composites remains challenging. In this study, dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets in precermic polymer using ball milling is done followed by polymer pyrolysis to obtain near stoichiometric SiC–graphene nanoplatelet powder. Subsequently, spark plasma sintering (SPS) is used to consolidate SiC-graphene nanoplatelet powders to form bulk samples. Different processing conditions are used, including various temperatures, and pressures while limiting the grain growth. Density and porosity of SiC-graphene nanoplatelet nanocomposites are determined as a function of processing temperature. XRD is used to determine changes in phase at different processing temperature and to estimate grain size variation. Ring-on-ring tests are performed to observe the effect of nanofiller on biaxial strength of bulk samples. Microhardness of the samples are also determined to understand the effect of graphene on hardness. Increasing the sintering temperature to 2100∘C has resulted in relative density of 90% with significant improvement in mechanical properties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74075, USA

    Arif Rahman, Ashish Singh, Sandip P. Harimkar & Raman P. Singh

Authors
  1. Arif Rahman
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  2. Ashish Singh
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  3. Sandip P. Harimkar
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  4. Raman P. Singh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raman P. Singh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Eann Patterson

  2. National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0R6, Canada

    David Backman

  3. Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, Michigan, USA

    Gary Cloud

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© 2013 The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc.

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Rahman, A., Singh, A., Harimkar, S.P., Singh, R.P. (2013). Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Graphene Reinforced Silicon Carbide Nanocomposites. In: Patterson, E., Backman, D., Cloud, G. (eds) Composite Materials and Joining Technologies for Composites, Volume 7. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4553-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4553-1_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4552-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4553-1

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