Improving the Mechanical Properties of GPLs-SiAlON Composites by Microfluidization Technique as a New Approach to Dispersion of GPLs

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 3, 455 - 467, 30.09.2022

Sinem Başkut , Servet Turan

https://doi.org/10.29109/gujsc.1115494

Öz

Graphene platelets (GPLs) are frequently preferred as reinforcement material to improve the mechanical properties of many advanced technology ceramics, thanks to their superior properties. However, their reinforcement levels vary depending on whether they are homogeneously distributed in the matrix microstructure. This is generally controlled by the thickness (number of layers) of the GPLs. In general, single- or few-layer GPLs show high performance as reinforcement but are commercially expensive. This limits their large-scale use. This study aims to achieve the performance of the GPLs (GPLRef), which is determined to have a high mechanical reinforcement level but is quite expensive, by economically thinning other GPLs (C0-GPL) with similar platelet size but cheaper and thicker structure. For this purpose, the microfluidization technique, a new approach to the dispersion of GPLs, was applied. C0-GPL is exposed to 1, 2, 4 and 8 cycles of microfluidization process. Microfluidized GPLs were added to the SiAlON matrix at a ratio of 1.5 wt %, and the GPLs-SiAlON composites were sintered using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The platelet size of C0-GPL decreased as the number of applied microfluidization cycles increased. However, while this reduction in platelet size was not significant up to 2 cycles, it was very pronounced at 4 and 8 cycles. Raman analyses revealed that GPLs could be dispersed effectively for up to 4 cycles. After this point, the GPLs fragmented rather than thin as the number of cycles increased. GPLs slightly thinner than GPLRef could be obtained with 2 cycles of microfluidization (C2-GPL). Therefore, C2-GPL were more homogeneously dispersed in SiAlON matrix microstructure compared to GPLRef. As a result, both the through-plane and in-plane direction fracture toughness values of SiAlON matrix containing C2-GPL, which partially preserved the platelet size, were higher than those of GPLRef-SiAlON. The fracture toughness of SiAlON matrix composites containing 4 and 8 cycles of microfluidized GPLs were lower than that of GPLRef-SiAlON as an adverse effect of decreasing platelet size. It has been determined that the mechanical reinforcement performance of commercially expensive GPLRef can be achieved economically by applying 2 cycles of microfluidization to cost-effective C0-GPL.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Graphene platelets (GPLs), Microfluidization, Thickness of GPLs, Fracture toughness

Proje Numarası

1606F570 ve 19ADP019

Kaynakça

• [1] Singh V., Joung D., Zhai L., Das S., Khondaker S.I., Seal S., Graphene based materials: past, present and future, Progress in Materials Science, 56 (2011) 1178–1271.
• [2] Mas-Balleste R., Gomez-Navarro C., Gomez-Herrero J., Zamora F., 2D materials: to graphene and beyond, Nanoscale, 3 (2011) 20-30.
• [3] Geim A.K., Novoselov K.S., The rise of graphene, Nature Materials, 6 (2007) 183–191.
• [4] Yaping Y., Bin L., Changrui Z., Siqing W., Kun L., Bei Y., Fabrication and properties of graphene reinforced silicon nitride composite materials, Materials Science & Engineering A, 644 (2015) 90-95.
• [5] Zeng Z., Liu Y., Chen W., Li X., Zheng Q., Li K., Guo R., Fabrication and properties of in situ reduced graphene oxide-toughened zirconia composite ceramics, Journal of American Ceramic Society 101 (2018) 3498.
• [6] Liu J., Yan H., Jiang K., Mechanical properties of graphene platelet-reinforced alumina ceramic composites, Ceramics International, 39 (6) (2013) 6215-6221.
• [7] El-Amir A.A.M., El-Maddah A.A., Ewais E.M.M., El-Sheikh S.M., Bayoumi I.M.I., Ahmed Y.M.Z., Sialon from synthesis to applications: an overview, Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies, 9 (4) (2021) 1390-1418.
• [8] Hoffmann M.J., Si3N4-Ceramics, Structure and Properties of, Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology, 2011, DOI: 10.1016/B0-08-043152-6/01513-8.
• [9] Ekström T., Nygren M., SiAlON ceramics, Journal of American Ceramic Society 75 (1992) 259– 276.
• [10] Baskut S, Sert A., Çelik O.N., Turan S., Anisotropic mechanical and tribological properties of SiAlON matrix composites containing different types of GNPs, Journal of the European Ceramic Society 41 (2021) 1878–1890.
• [11] Taylor A.C. Processing of polymer nanocomposites, Manufacturing Techniques for Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs), (2012) 95-119.
• [12] Porwal H., Tatarko P., Grasso S., Khaliq J., Dlouhý I., Reece M.J., Graphene reinforced alumina nano-composites, Carbon, 64 (2013) 359-369.
• [13] Yun C., Fenga Y., Qiu T., Yang J., Li X., Yu L., Mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of graphene nanosheet/aluminum nitride composites. Ceramics International, 41(7) (2015) 8643-8649.
• [14] Tapasztó O., Puchy V., Horváth Z.E., Fogarassy Z., Bódis E., Károly Z., Balázsi K., Dusza J., Tapasztó L., The effect of graphene nanoplatelet thickness on the fracture toughness of Si3N4 composites, Ceramics International, 45(6) (2019) 6858-6862.
• [15] https://www.beei.com/blog/microfluidization-how-does-it-work
• [16] https://www.microfluidics-mpt.com/microfluidics-technology/how-it-works.
• [17] Yurdakul H., Göncü Y., Durukan O., Akay A., Seyhan A.T., Ay N., Turan S., Nanoscopic characterization of two-dimensional (2D) boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) produced by microfluidization, Ceramics International, 38 (2012) 2187-2193.
• [18] Başkut S., The Effect of Different Graphene Nanoplatelets Addition on Mechanical,Thermal and Electrıcal Properties of SiAlON Ceramics, PhD Thesis, Eskisehir Technical University, Institute of Graduate Programs, 2019.
• [19] Rangel E.R., Fracture Toughness Determinations by Means of Indentation Fracture, Nanocomposites with Unique Properties and Applications in Medicine and Industry, InTech, (2011), ISBN:978-953-307-351-4.
• [20] Childres I., Jaureguib L.A., Park W., Cao H., Chen Y.P., Raman spectroscopy of graphene and related materials, 97 (2010) 173109.
• [21] Wall M., The raman spectroscopy of graphene and the determination of layer thickness, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Application Note: 52252.
• [22] Santos C., Strecker K., Baldacim S.A., da Silva O.M.M., da Silva, C.R.M., Influence of additive content on the anisotropy in hot-pressed Si3N4 ceramics using grain orientation measurements. Ceramics International, 30 (5) (2004) 653-659.
• [23] Tapasztó O., Puchy V., Horváth Z.E., Fogarassy Z., Bódis E., Károly Z., Balázsi K., Dusza J., Tapaszto L., The effect of graphene nanoplatelet thickness on the fracture toughness of Si3N4 composites. Ceramics International, 45 (6) (2019) 6858-6862.
• [24] Chatterjee, S., Nafezarefi, F., Tai, N.H., Schlagenhauf, L., Nüesch, F.A., Chu, B.T.T., Size and synergy effects of nanofiller hybrids including graphene nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes in mechanical properties of epoxy composites. Carbon, 50 (2012) 5380–5386.