Properties and Applications of Aluminium-Graphite Composites

Abstract

In recent year's aluminium and aluminium alloys are widely used in automotive industries. These are light (density of about 2.7 g/cm3), having good malleability and formability, high corrosion resistance and high electrical and thermal conductivity. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are being employed in industrial applications since they have high specific strength, stiffness, and good wear properties. Due to their favourable properties, composite materials with reinforcements are used in many industries. With the aim to additionally improve some of their properties, especially their tribological properties, several solid lubricants are used in the process of composite production. This paper gives an overview of investigations and possibilities of solid lubricant particles (such as graphite) applying as complementary material, mainly for aluminium base composites that are nowadays common in use in automotive and aeronautics industry.