Title: Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-coated graphene composites

Authors: Kalyanamanohar Veeramallu; Alluru Gopala Krishna

Addresses: Department Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering Kakinada (A), JNTUK Kakinada, 533003, Andhra Pradesh, India ' Department Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering Kakinada (A), JNTUK Kakinada, 533003, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) surface was modified by reducing the precursors of SiO to silicon carbide (SiC) coating at a temperature of 1,350°C for 30 min using a carbothermal reduction process. The crystalline phases of SiC and GNP were determined by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The uniform distribution of SiC nanoparticles on the surface of GNP was highlighted using HRTEM. The specific surface area of SiC-coated GNP (SGNP) powder was reduced by 70% rather than GNP owing to SiC coating. To find the toughness of the SiC coating, the GNP and SGNP powders were compacted using spark plasma sintering at a temperature of 1,800°C. Both nanohardness and elastic modulus of SGNP sintered samples surged for the top surface and lateral surface about 70% and 80% approximately compared to GNP. The dense SiC coating on GNP promotes a lower depth of indentation observed through an optical microscope.

Keywords: graphene nanoplatelets; GNP; SiC coated GNP; SGNP; specific surface area; SSA; carbothermal; nanoindentation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2023.136117

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2023 Vol.14 No.4, pp.331 - 343

Received: 23 Apr 2022
Accepted: 23 Jul 2022
Published online: 17 Jan 2024 *

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