Title: Studying the microstructure, electrical, and electrochemical behaviour of the Cu-10WC/x GNs for electrochemical machining electrode and energy application

Authors: Hossam Mohamed Yehia; Fathei Nouh; Omayma A. El-Kady; Walaa Abd-Elaziem; E.M. Elsayed

Addresses: Production Technology Department, Faculty of Technology and Education, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt ' Mechanical Department, Faculty of Engineering, Sinai University, Egypt ' Powder Metallurgy Division, Manufacturing Department, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box 87 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt ' Department of Mechanical Design and Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, P.O. Box 44519, Egypt ' Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box 87 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: Electroless deposition, followed by the powder metallurgy method, has been used to manufacture Cu-10WC/GNs nanocomposite with graphene content of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt.%. The produced composites' microstructure, density, electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance were investigated. The microstructure characterisation showed that the tungsten carbide and graphene coated with Cu nanoparticles are homogeneously distributed in the Cu matrix. The electrical conductivity increased with raising the coated GNs percentage to 4.9 × 10⁷ Ohm m^-1 for Cu-10WC/1 wt% GNs (more than the Cu-10WC by ~ 81.4%). By reinforcing copper with WC, the deposition current was decreased, whereas the addition of GNs induced a significant increase in the current deposition values as well as the resistance polarisation. Moreover, the corrosion rate gradually decreases with increasing the graphene percentage. The Cu-10WC/1GNs composite has a minimum corrosion rate of 10.15 mm/year (less than the monolithic copper by ~72%).

Keywords: copper matrix nanocomposite; graphene nanosheets; tungsten carbide; electrochemical behaviour; cyclic voltammetry; resistance polarisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2022.128461

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2022 Vol.24 No.6, pp.430 - 452

Received: 11 May 2022
Accepted: 02 Sep 2022
Published online: 23 Jan 2023 *

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