Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites

Studies about adding graphene reinforcement to improve the microfabrication performance of alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) ceramic materials are still too rare and incomplete to satisfy sustainable manufacturing requirements. Therefore, this study aims to develop a deta...

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Main Authors: Mustafa M. Nasr, Saqib Anwar, Ali M. Al-Samhan, Khaled N. Alqahtani, Abdulmajeed Dabwan, Mohammed H. Alhaag
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/6/1032
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author Mustafa M. Nasr
Saqib Anwar
Ali M. Al-Samhan
Khaled N. Alqahtani
Abdulmajeed Dabwan
Mohammed H. Alhaag
author_facet Mustafa M. Nasr
Saqib Anwar
Ali M. Al-Samhan
Khaled N. Alqahtani
Abdulmajeed Dabwan
Mohammed H. Alhaag
author_sort Mustafa M. Nasr
collection DOAJ
description Studies about adding graphene reinforcement to improve the microfabrication performance of alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) ceramic materials are still too rare and incomplete to satisfy sustainable manufacturing requirements. Therefore, this study aims to develop a detailed understanding of the effect of graphene reinforcement to enhance the laser micromachining performance of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-based nanocomposites. To achieve this, high-density Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposite specimens were fabricated with 0 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2.5 wt.% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) using a high-frequency induction heating process. The specimens were subjected to laser micromachining. Afterward, the effects of the GNP contents on the ablation depth/width, surface morphology, surface roughness, and material removal rate were studied. The results indicate that the micro-fabrication performance of the nanocomposites was significantly affected by the GNP content. All nanocomposites exhibited improvement in the ablation depth and material removal rate compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (0 wt.% GNP). For instance, at a higher scanning speed, the ablation depth was increased by a factor of 10 times for the GNP-reinforced specimens compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites. In addition, the MRRs were increased by 2134%, 2391%, 2915%, and 2427% for the 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2.5 wt.% GNP/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites, respectively, compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> specimens. Likewise, the surface roughness and surface morphology were considerably improved for all GNP/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposite specimens compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. This is because the GNP reinforcement reduced the ablation threshold and increased the material removal efficiency by increasing the optical absorbance and thermal conductivity and reducing the grain size of the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites. Among the GNP/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites, the 0.5 wt.% and 1 wt.% GNP specimens showed superior performance with minimum defects in most laser micromachining conditions. Overall, the results show that the GNP-reinforced Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites can be machined with high quality and a high production rate using a basic fiber laser system (20 Watts) with very low power consumption. This study shows huge potential for adding graphene to alumina ceramic-based materials to improve their machinability.
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spelling doaj.art-fb2983c3114248b283f70a3ec9062a842023-11-17T13:00:38ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-03-01136103210.3390/nano13061032Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix NanocompositesMustafa M. Nasr0Saqib Anwar1Ali M. Al-Samhan2Khaled N. Alqahtani3Abdulmajeed Dabwan4Mohammed H. Alhaag5Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Taibah University, Medinah 41411, Saudi ArabiaIndustrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaIndustrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaIndustrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Taibah University, Medinah 41411, Saudi ArabiaIndustrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Taibah University, Medinah 41411, Saudi ArabiaIndustrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaStudies about adding graphene reinforcement to improve the microfabrication performance of alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) ceramic materials are still too rare and incomplete to satisfy sustainable manufacturing requirements. Therefore, this study aims to develop a detailed understanding of the effect of graphene reinforcement to enhance the laser micromachining performance of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-based nanocomposites. To achieve this, high-density Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposite specimens were fabricated with 0 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2.5 wt.% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) using a high-frequency induction heating process. The specimens were subjected to laser micromachining. Afterward, the effects of the GNP contents on the ablation depth/width, surface morphology, surface roughness, and material removal rate were studied. The results indicate that the micro-fabrication performance of the nanocomposites was significantly affected by the GNP content. All nanocomposites exhibited improvement in the ablation depth and material removal rate compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (0 wt.% GNP). For instance, at a higher scanning speed, the ablation depth was increased by a factor of 10 times for the GNP-reinforced specimens compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites. In addition, the MRRs were increased by 2134%, 2391%, 2915%, and 2427% for the 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2.5 wt.% GNP/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites, respectively, compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> specimens. Likewise, the surface roughness and surface morphology were considerably improved for all GNP/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposite specimens compared to the base Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. This is because the GNP reinforcement reduced the ablation threshold and increased the material removal efficiency by increasing the optical absorbance and thermal conductivity and reducing the grain size of the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites. Among the GNP/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites, the 0.5 wt.% and 1 wt.% GNP specimens showed superior performance with minimum defects in most laser micromachining conditions. Overall, the results show that the GNP-reinforced Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanocomposites can be machined with high quality and a high production rate using a basic fiber laser system (20 Watts) with very low power consumption. This study shows huge potential for adding graphene to alumina ceramic-based materials to improve their machinability.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/6/1032Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> matrix nanocompositesgraphene nanoplateletsclean and sustainable manufacturinghigh-frequency induction heatinglaser micromachining performancesurface integrity
spellingShingle Mustafa M. Nasr
Saqib Anwar
Ali M. Al-Samhan
Khaled N. Alqahtani
Abdulmajeed Dabwan
Mohammed H. Alhaag
Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> matrix nanocomposites
graphene nanoplatelets
clean and sustainable manufacturing
high-frequency induction heating
laser micromachining performance
surface integrity
title Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites
title_full Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites
title_fullStr Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites
title_short Sustainable Microfabrication Enhancement of Graphene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced Biomedical Alumina Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposites
title_sort sustainable microfabrication enhancement of graphene nanoplatelet reinforced biomedical alumina ceramic matrix nanocomposites
topic Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> matrix nanocomposites
graphene nanoplatelets
clean and sustainable manufacturing
high-frequency induction heating
laser micromachining performance
surface integrity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/6/1032
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