Influence of Graphene Nanoplatelets Synthesized by Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis on the Hardness and Thermal Conductivity of an Aluminum Composite

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis are first tested as an additive to an aluminum-based composite. The introduction of up to 6 wt % GNP made it possible to double the hardness of the original aluminum matrix and also to reduce the thermal conductivity by a factor of 9, while maintaining the low density comparable to the density of the original aluminum.