Directed energy deposition of aluminium bronze/GNPs composites: Microstructural evolution for enhanced wear resistance

The enhancement mechanism of graphene on the wear resistance of Aluminium Bronze alloy powder was investigated using the DED technique. The incorporation of GNPs enhanced convection in the melt pool, which resulted in a tighter bonding of the substrate to the deposited layer. Aluminium Bronze/GNPs undergo a phase transition compared to the pure material. The phase transition leads to the generation of a large number of twinned crystals. The incorporation of GNPs resulted in a 56.38% increase in hardness. Under loads of 120 N, 150 N, and 180 N, the friction coefficients decreased from 0.28, 0.23, and 0.51 to 0.31, 0.27, and 0.26, respectively. Additionally, the wear mass became 42.86%, 62.50%, and 93.87% of the corresponding load conditions.