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EnergyProcedia
Procedia119 (2017) 000–000
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International Conference on Technologies and Materials for Renewable Energy, Environment and
International Conference on Technologies
Sustainability, and21-24
TMREES17, Materials
Aprilfor Renewable
2017, Energy, Environment and
Beirut Lebanon
Sustainability, TMREES17, 21-24 April 2017, Beirut Lebanon
Effect
Effect addition
addition ofInternational
The 15thof
graphene
graphene on
on electrical
electrical
Symposium
conductivity
conductivity
on District
and
and tensile
Heating and Cooling tensile
strength for Recycled electric power transmission
strength for Recycled electric power transmission wires wires
Assessing the feasibility of using a*the heat demand-outdoor
Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabura*, Hussein A. Alwanbb
temperatureFadhil
function for Akram
A. Chyada a long-term
R. Jabur district
, Husseinheat demand forecast
A. Alwan
a
Department of Materials Engineering/University of Technology , Baghdad 10001, Iraq
b a
Department of Materials Engineering/University
Ministry of Technology , Baghdad 10001, Iraq
a,b,c of Electricity, aGeneral Directorate
a of Electric EnergybTransmission - Middle Euphrates,
c Iraq. c
I. Andrić b *, A. Pina , P. Ferrão , J. Fournier ., B. Lacarrière , O. Le Corre
Ministry of Electricity, General Directorate of Electric
* E- mail: 130020@uotechnology.edu.iq, Energy Transmission
Mobile: - Middle Euphrates, Iraq.
009647718099679
* E- mail: 130020@uotechnology.edu.iq, Mobile: 009647718099679
a
IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research - Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
b
Veolia Recherche & Innovation, 291 Avenue Dreyfous Daniel, 78520 Limay, France
c
Abstract Département Systèmes Énergétiques et Environnement - IMT Atlantique, 4 rue Alfred Kastler, 44300 Nantes, France
Abstract
In this study, effect of artificial aging and cold rolling on the conductive and tensile properties of graphene reinforced
In this
aluminum study,composites
matrix effect of artificial
has been aging and cold rolling
investigated. Graphene on the conductive
reinforced and tensile
aluminum matrixproperties
composites of graphene
were preparedreinforcedby
Abstract matrix composites has been investigated. Graphene reinforced aluminum matrix composites were prepared by
aluminum
pyrolysis method. Graphene nanopwoder have been applied as reinforcing phase in molten pure aluminum (99.5%). Al wires
pyrolysis
(scrap wiremethod.
damaged) Graphene
are meltednanopwoder
and graphene havenanopwoder
been applied(0.5as %)
reinforcing phase Al-graphene
can be added. in molten pure aluminum
alloy was cast (99.5%). Al wires
into a diameter of
District
(scrap heating networks
wire are commonly addressed in the (0.5
literature
canasbeone of the most effective solutions for decreasing the
(10 mm) anddamaged)
height ofare (20melted and graphene
mm) billet nanopwoder
by steel mold. After that, %)Al-0.5
the added.
% Al-graphene
graphene alloyrolling
rod was cold was cast into
at room a temperature
diameter of
greenhouse
(10 mm) and gas emissions
height of (20 frombillet
mm) the building
by steel sector.
mold. Thesethat,
After systems
the require%high
Al-0.5 investments
graphene rod waswhich
cold are returned
rolling at roomthrough the heat
temperature
in a (10 mm) diameter rod form into a (3.5 mm) diameter wire. Both the electrical conductivity and tensile strength of alloys
sales.
in a (10Due
mm) to the changed climate
into conditions and building renovation
Both the policies, heat demand andin the future could ofdecrease,
improved by diameter
cold rolling+rod form
artificial aaging
(3.5 mm) diameter
treatment. Thewire.
improvement electrical conductivity
of electrical conductivity tensile
of (B1)strength alloys
alloy is (8.9%)
prolonging
improved by the investment
cold rolling+ return period.
artificial aging treatment. The improvement of electrical conductivity of (B ) alloy is (8.9%)
comparing with (A as cast) alloy, while the improvement in tensile strength of (B1) alloy compared with (A) alloy is (168.6%). 1
The main with
comparing scope(A of as
thiscast)
paper is towhile
alloy, assess theimprovement
feasibility of using the strength
heat demand
of (B–1)layers
outdoor temperature
withfunction forisheat demand
Raman spectroscopy was carried out in the
order to indicate in thetensile
number of graphene alloy compared
of the prepared (A) alloy
samples, (168.6%).
also to give
forecast.
Raman The districtwas of carried
Alvalade, located intoLisbon (Portugal), was used as a layers
case study. The district is consisted of 665
good data about the structure of the prepared samples. FESEM studies showed a highly dimpled structure, characteristicgive
spectroscopy out in order indicate the number of graphene of the prepared samples, also to of
buildings
good data that vary
about the in both construction
structure of the periodsamples.
prepared and typology.
FESEM Three weather
studies showed scenarios
a highly(low, medium,
dimpled high) characteristic
structure, and three districtof
ductile failure. The results show that electrical conductivity and tensile strength are improved by the addition of graphene.
renovation
ductile failure.scenarios were
The results developed
show (shallow,
that electrical intermediate,
conductivity deep). strength
and tensile To estimate the error,byobtained
are improved heat of
the addition demand
graphene.values were
compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
©The
© 2017
2017 The Authors.
results
The showed that
Authors. Published by
when only
Published by Elsevier
weatherLtd.
Elsevier change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications
Ltd.
Peer-review
Peer-review under
under responsibility
responsibility of
of the
the Euro-Mediterranean
Euro-Mediterranean Institute for Sustainable
Institutescenarios
for Sustainable
Sustainable Development
Development (EUMISD).
(EUMISD).
(the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather
Peer-review under responsibility of the Euro-Mediterranean Institute for considered). However,
Development after introducing renovation
(EUMISD).
scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered).
Keywords: Graphene; Aluminum matrix composites; Electrical Conductivity; Tensile Strength; Raman Spectroscopy; Scanning Electron
The value(SEM).
Keywords: of slopeAluminum
MicroscopyGraphene;
coefficient increased
matrix composites;on Electrical
average within the range
Conductivity; ofStrength;
Tensile 3.8% upRaman to 8% per decade,Scanning
Spectroscopy; that corresponds
Electron to the
decrease in
Microscopy the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and
(SEM).
renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the
coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and
improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

© 2017 The Authors.

* Corresponding author.Published
Tel.: by Elsevier Ltd.
* Corresponding
E-mail address:
Peer-review author.
under Tel.:
akram.jabut@gmail.com
responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and
E-mail address:
Cooling. akram.jabut@gmail.com

Keywords:©Heat
1876-6102 2017demand;
The Authors. Published
Forecast; bychange
Climate Elsevier Ltd.
1876-6102
Peer-review©under
2017responsibility
The Authors. of
Published by Elsevier Ltd. Institute for Sustainable Development (EUMISD).
the Euro-Mediterranean
Peer-review under responsibility of the Euro-Mediterranean Institute for Sustainable Development (EUMISD).

1876-6102 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling.
1876-6102 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of the Euro-Mediterranean Institute for Sustainable Development (EUMISD).
10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.055
122 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130
2 Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

1. Introduction

Carbon is arguably the most versatile chemical element in nature. One illustration of this is covered by two
of its 3D allotropes: diamond and graphite. While diamond is a very hard, transparent insulator, graphite is a soft,
opaque conductor. Furthermore, carbon is a prolific atomic connector, able to form more compounds than any other
element in nature, and allows unique and complex structures to take shape [1].
Carbon is the material prima for life and the basis of all organic chemistry. Because of the flexibility of its
bonding, carbon-based systems show an unlimited number of different structures with an equally large variety of
physical properties. These physical properties are, in great part, the result of the dimensionality of these structures
[2].
From time to time, different structures of carbon had been discovered, such as fullerene class known as the
“buckyball”, a spherical molecule comprised solely of carbon atoms with the formula 60, was made in 1985 by
Kroto et al. [3] and has since been used in organic based solar cells [4, 5]. Another fullerene class was later
fabricated by Iijima in 1991 known commonly today as carbon nanotubes[6]. bio resistive coatings [7] and
transparent conductive films [8], microelectronic transistors. The discovery of another carbon allotrope, graphene,
by Novoselov et al. in 2004 [9].
The exact history of graphene and how it appeared on the scientific horizon is fascinating. In theory, as an
integral part of various three-dimensional materials, graphene has been studied since the 1940s. [10,11]. In 1947
Philip Wallace wrote a pioneering paper concerning the electronic behavior of graphite that sparked interest into the
exploration of graphene[11]. However it was not until the recent work of Novoselov et al. [9,12] and Zhang et al.
[13] that interest in graphene escalated due to reports of its unique properties[14].
Graphene is a single layer of sp2-bonded carbon atoms that are packed in a honeycomb lattice [15]. It should
be noted that multilayer graphene can have up to ten layers, and still be called graphene. Few layer graphene (FLG)
has three to nine layers. The limit where graphene becomes graphite is ten layers. The atomic structure of graphene
gives rise to exceptional electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties [15]. The most interesting electrical
properties are high electron mobility and ballistic transport of charge carriers. However, these properties come with
a twist; graphene is zero-bandgap semiconductor, or semimetal. Its sp2-hybridized two-dimensional single-atom
thick-layer structure and unique thermal, electrical and mechanical properties, graphene has been extensively
investigated in recent years [9,16,17,18]. Graphene has a very high specific surface area (2630 m2 g−1), an electron
mobility exceeding 15000 cm2V−1 S−1 at room temperature, and a thermal conductivity of about 5000 Wm−1K−1.
Moreover, graphene has an am bipolar field-effect and quantum Hall ferromagnetic characteristics [19,20,21,22].
Graphene has a breaking strength of 42N/m. Steel has a breaking strength in the range of 250-1200 MPa= 0.25-
1.2x109 N/m2. For a hypothetical steel film of the same thickness as graphene (which can be taken to be
3.35Å=3.35x10-10 m, i.e. the layer thickness in graphite), this would give a 2D breaking strength of 0.084-0.40 N/m.
Thus, graphene is more than 100 times stronger than the strongest steel. The sheet conductivity of a 2D material is
given by acoustic phonons. The mobility is theoretically limited to μ=200,000 cm2V−1s−1 at a carrier density of
n=1012 cm−2. The 2D sheet resistivity, also called the resistance per square, is then 31 Ω. Our fictional hammock
measuring 1m2 would thus have a resistance of 31 Ω. σ=enμ.Using the layer thickness we get a bulk conductivity of
0.96x106 Ω-1cm-1 for graphene. This is somewhat higher than the conductivity of copper, which is 0.60x106 Ω-1cm-
1
[23].

2. Experimental

2.1. Preparation of graphene by pyrolysis method

This method considered as one of the simplest and cheapest methods to produce graphene paper (GP) which
uses asphalt as source for carbon atoms. The graphene precursor is a plastic roof cement, which consists
primarily of asphalt (TAR) but included some impurities such as clay, cellulose and water.
This method had been modified by mixing amounts of used TAR with amount of 30 % alcohol
(99.99 ethanol).
Through this method, reaction vessel is a (60 mL) casserole crucible with an inner crucible (20 mL) which
filled with (10 g) of asphalt precursor and inserted in the larger casserole crucible and well glass covered as
 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130 123
Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 3

illustrated in Fig. (1). For the (TAR) method, the casserole crucibles were placed in a furnace and heated up to
(630- 650 C0) for (10-15min.).After that, the furnace is switched off and then the crucibles left in the furnace
for (10 min.) and then the crucibles removed from the furnace to be cooled down until room temperature.This
method is illustrated in the following Fig. (1):

Fig.1. Illustration for pyrolysis method.

The samples of graphene prepared through this method are indicated in Figure 2.

Fig. 2. Illustration of prepared samples.

2.2. Preparation of Al – graphene alloy

All alloy samples were first prepared by recycle electrical scrap wire damaged and then remove the slag
resulting from the melting process, molten pure aluminum (99.5%) purity, where Al wires (scrap wire damaged) are
melted and graphene Nano powder (0.5 %) can be added. Firstly, Al wires were put in Graphite crucible inside the
furnace for melting up to (750 Cο) and then stirrer at (500 rpm) was used to achieve homogenously of the mixture,
after that obtained Al-graphene alloy was cast into a diameter of (10 mm) and height of (20 mm) billet by steel mold
and cooled from the bottom of mold by using water spray to avoid pore formation. After that the Al-0.5 % graphene
124 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130
4 Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

billet was cold rolling at room temperature in a (10 mm) diameter rod form into a (3.5 mm) diameter wire. Stages of
the new wire manufacturing shown in fig.3.

Scrap wire damaged Cutting wire Samples after casting New wires (after cold rolling

Fig.3. Stages of the new wire manufacturing.

The alloys in a rod form were drawn from (10 mm) to (3.5 mm) diameter wire in (13) step drawing process.
Figure 4. shows the rolling machine and drawing bench that were used for drawing operation with Lanolin grease
as the die lubricant, rolling machine contains different gaps between each two rolls producing square cross section,
while drawing bench contains many holes of different diameter from several (mm) to about (1 mm) that produce
circular cross section wire.

(a) (b)

Fig.4. (a) Rolling machine, (b) Drawing bench.

Many metals were appearing in chemical composition due to impurity in Al wires. The chemical
composition of the base alloy (Al wires) show in Table 1.

Table 1. Chemical composition of the base alloy (Al wires).

Composition

Alloy Si% Fe% Cu% Mn% Mg% Cr% Ni% Zn% Ti% Pb% V% Al%

A(base alloy)

0.107 0.423 0.010 0.005 0.001 0.003 0.001 0.008 0.002 0.0009 0.001 Bal.
 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130 125
Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 5

Table 2 presents values of electrical conductivity and tensile strength for the alloy used in the research.

Table 2. Electrical conductivity and tensile strength for the alloy used in the research.

Alloy Condition Electrical Conductivity Tensile Strength

(M S/m) (Mpa)
A
Scrap wires damaged as cast 33.8 67

B
(Al -0.5% graphene) as cast 33.3 92

The graphene reinforced base alloy (Al wires) rods by solution heated up to (490 Cο) for (45 min.) and then
water quenching and 90 % cold rolling, Finally, Artificial aging for samples at (200 Cο) for (1,2,4,6,8 and 10 hr.).
The samples are heated from room temperature with a rate of (60 Cο/ hr. ) and kept at (200 Cο ) for different aging
times.

Table 3. Shows Thermo – Mechanical Treatment conditions.

Alloy conditions
code
B1 S.H.T at (490 Cο) for (45 min.) + W.Q + 90 % C.R + A.A at (200 Cο ) for (1hr.)
B2 S.H.T at (490 Cο) for (45 min.) + W.Q + 90 % C.R + A.A at (200 Cο ) for (2hr.)
B3 S.H.T at (490 Cο) for (45 min.) + W.Q + 90 % C.R + A.A at (200 Cο ) for (4hr.)
B4 S.H.T at (490 Cο) for (45 min.) + W.Q + 90 % C.R + A.A at (200 Cο ) for (6hr.)
B5 S.H.T at (490 Cο) for (45 min.) + W.Q + 90 % C.R + A.A at (200 Cο ) for (8hr.)
B6 S.H.T at (490 Cο) for (45 min.) + W.Q + 90 % C.R + A.A at (200 Cο ) for (10hr.)
S.H.T: Solution Heat Treatment.
W.Q: Water Quench.
C.R: Cold Rolling.
A.A: Artificial Aging

3. Results

3.1. Electrical conductivity

This test was conducted in the general company for examination and geometric habilitation - Baghdad using
a device type (SIGMASCOPE® SMP 10) using the eddy current method according to (ASTM E 1004 and DIN EN
2004-1). Table 4. Represents values of electrical conductivity for the samples before and after heat treatment.

Table 4. Electrical conductivity for the samples before and after heat treatment.

Alloy B B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Condition as cast 1hr. 2hr. 4hr. 6hr. 8hr. 10hr.
EC 33.3 36.8 36.6 36.5 36.7 36.6 36.4
(M S /m)
EC: Electrical Conductivity
 126 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130
6 Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

The Figure 5. Shows effect of aging time on electrical conductivity for the alloy (B) at temperature (200Ԩ) for
different aging times.
38
37

Electrical Coductivity (M S/m)
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Aging Time (hr.)

Figure 5. Relationship between electrical conductivity and aging time of alloy (B) at temperature (200℃).

3.2. Tensile Strength

This test was conducted on (3.5 mm) diameter wire for samples of (B) alloy before and after heat
treatment to know the stress that fail samples of the alloy. This test was conducted in general company for
examination and geometric habilitation - Baghdad using a device type (UNITED, MODEL: SHFM, 600KN,
SERIAL 1001505). For each condition, seven samples were prepared. Once all the samples had been removed and
had cooled to room temperature, they were tested in tension to failure using a (20 cm) gauge length, and the tensile
strength recorded. Table 5. Represents the tensile strength data for the heat-treated condition materials before and
after heat treatment.

Table 5. Shows the tensile strength data for the heat-treated condition materials.

Alloy B B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Condition as cast 1hr. 2hr. 4hr. 6hr. 8hr. 10hr.
T.S 92 180 177 148 145 148 151
(MPa)
T.S: Tensile Strength

Data for each sample is shown in Figure 6. This is plotted tensile strength versus aging time for each
sample. Typically, one hour of aging shows increase in strength, but thereafter for (2-4 hr.) date show progressively
larger downward shifts in strength. However, the strength approximately remains constant for (4-10 hr.).
 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130 127
Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 7

Fig. 6. Aging Curve of Tensile Strength vs. Aging time for (Al- 0.5 graphene) wire at (200°C).

4. Discussion

Fig. 5. Shows the electrical conductivity of (Al-0.5% graphene) alloy as the function of aging time at
(200Ԩ).The (C.R+artificial aging) can improve the electrical conductivity of (Al- 0.5% graphene) markedly.
Comparing with (A) alloy, the improvement of electrical conductivity of (B1) is (8.9%) .Given these comparisons
and the results of this study, it appears that the graphene is a promising material to improve the electrical
conductivity of electrical power transmission line and has potential for being used in the production of electrical
type sensor materials. Two-dimensional graphene has specially attracted a lot of attention because of its unique
electrical properties such as very high carrier mobility, and ambipolar electric field effect along with ballistic
conduction of charge carriers[9]. The conductivity of (B1) alloy increased with increasing concentration of
graphene due to the reduced insulated space between graphene particles. It is well known that the electrical
resistance is caused by the conductive electron scattered by lattice distortion introduced by impurities, defects,
alloy elements etc. [24]. In homogenized or (CR) alloys, the crystal lattice is highly distorted due to supersaturated
solid solution in Al matrix, micro voids, and high density dislocations [25]. Hence, a lower electrical conductivity
(higher electrical resistance) can be obtained. After ageing treatment, the lattice distortion decreases markedly with
the formation of coherent precipitates, dislocation cells, and sub grains. Hence, the conductivity can be improved
apparently.
Fig. 6. Presents the tensile strength vs. Aging time for (Al- 0.5 graphene) alloy nanocomposites. It can be
seen that graphene show excellent reinforced effect on the mechanical strength of the Al / graphene alloy
nanocomposite. At the same time, the addition of graphene does not decrease the ductility of Al alloy matrix. With
the introduction of (0.50 wt %) of graphene, the tensile strength of graphene /Al alloy nanocomposites increases
from (92 MPa) to (180 MPa), this means that the ratio of improvement in tensile strength of (B1) alloy compared
with (A) and (B) alloys are (168.6% ,95.6%) respectively. And most of all, the elongation of Al / graphene alloy
nanocomposites is not decreased with the addition of reinforcement as in the case of most of the other metal matrix
composites [26-29]. These results demonstrate that graphene have a great potential as the most ideal reinforcement
for aluminum matrix composites. Other metal matrices may also be reinforced by graphene, and more researches
are being done and relevant results will be reported in the near future. The strengthening mechanism of graphene
reinforcement is thought to be related to the excellent mechanical properties and the unique structured
characteristics of graphene, and to the good bonding interfaces between graphene and (Al) matrix [30]. Orowan
looping strengthening mechanism is important in Al alloy materials, which is about fine precipitates strengthening
[31]. The strength increase in the graphene-reinforced composite may come from three main contributors: graphene
addition [32], strain hardening due to ball milling [33], and carbide formation due to the reaction between the
molten aluminum and defects at the graphitic planes [34].
Fig. 7. (d) Presents the Raman spectrum of the prepared graphene. The spectrum behavior is very similar to
that of the reported results for few layers of graphene [35], which reveals the successful synthesis of high quality
graphene.
128 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130
8 Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000

Fig. 7. Raman spectrum of the synthesis of graphene.

A broad (G and D) bands are observed in Raman spectrum of the sample which contain (30% ethanol+70% asphalt)
and centred at (1600 cm-1) and at (1370 cm-1) respectively.
These two bands (G and D) located near the typical G and D peaks of graphene, but there is some difference
on the height of (G) band that reflected its intensity. The intensity of (G) band for sample increased which give
indication that layer thickness which was decreased, so the intensity increased. There is another factor giving
information about the thickness of the layers of prepared graphene. It is the position of (G) band and this is clear in
figure 7, which this band is located at (1600 cm-1) which give indication that layer thickness decreased [36].
Another factor that can give information about the structure of the prepared graphene is ratio of the intensity of D-
Raman peak and G- Raman peak (ID/IG) which often used for characterization of diamond-like carbon films, for
example to estimate number and size of the sp2 clusters [37]. This ratio gives information about the level of the
order and disorder in the structure of graphene and the average size of the sp2 domains in graphitic materials. The
intensity ratio of sample containing (30% ethanol+70% asphalt) is equal to (1) which indicates that the carbon
atoms in this sample is nearly all sp2 hybridization and is graphitic with some non-crystalline feature, which
support the low thickness of this sample. When comparing closely with this (ID/IG) behavior and electrical
conductivities obtained from aging treatment show that shorter and broader the D and G bands, higher the electrical
conductivity. The rougher the surface, the lower the conductivity. Film thicknesses also have a major impact on the
electrical conductivity with thinner films having higher conductivity [38].
Fig.8. presented the fracture surface morphology of the (Al- 0.5%graphene) alloy nanocomposites at different
magnifications of 300X, 1000X and 3000X respectively.
Figure 8.(a) shows the crack nucleation region. This is an important indicator of failure originating at the
surface. During crack propagation, pores may have intersected, as seen on the fracture surface. These pores are
related to precipitates pulled out. Figure 8.(b) shows the fracture surface of the central and edges region of the
sample. This fracture surface shows a highly dimpled structure, characteristic of ductile failure. In fracture of high
strength Al-alloys, intergranular damage is induced by growth of micro-voids around coarsened precipitates [39].It
can be seen that dimples and tear ridges are tiny and uniform with distinguishing feature of obvious trend along the
loading direction of tensile stress, indicating a good metallurgical bonding. It is also found that some graphene
were pulled out at the edges of tear ridges. The graphene were more easily observed from the magnified image of
the interior of dimples as shown in Fig. 8.(c). Due to the strength of graphene being much larger than that of the
aluminum matrix, the fracture of the graphene hardly occurred in these composites, and the graphene directly
pulled out from the aluminum matrix constitute the leading reinforcement mechanism. This is the possible reason
why the tensile strength is not increased as highly as the yield strength for Al /graphene alloy nanocomposites [30].
 Fadhil A. Chyada Akram R. Jabur et al. / Energy Procedia 119 (2017) 121–130 129
Akram R. Jabur et al / Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000 9

(a) (b) (c)

Fig.8. FESEM images of tensile fracture surfaces of the (Al /0.5% graphene) alloy nanocomposite. (a) Low magnification, (b) high magnification
and (c) a magnified image of the interior of dimples showing graphene on fracture surfaces.

5. Conclusion

 Preparation of graphene paper (GP) is obtained by pyrolysis method of asphalt and ethanol mixture in the
percentage of (70%) and (30%) respectively.
 Graphene reinforced aluminum matrix composites have been applied as reinforcing phase in molten pure
aluminum (99.5%).
 Effects of artificial aging and cold rolling on the conductive and tensile properties of (Al-0.5% graphene) alloy
were investigated.
 The aging treatment after cold rolling can improve both the electrical conductivity and tensile strength.
 The best electrical conductivity (36.8 MS/m) and tensile strength (180 Mpa) of wire rod were obtained in (B1)
alloy after the 90% cold rolling+aging at (200Ԩ) for (1hr.).
 Adding (0.5% graphene), the improvement of electrical conductivity and tensile strength of (B1) alloy
comparing with (A) alloy is (8.9%) and (168.6%) respectively.
 The results of this study, it appears that the graphene is a promising material to improve the electrical
conductivity of electrical power transmission line.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express special thank the Iraqi- Ministry of Electricity and Chief Engineer Oldest
Kareem J.Y.Alhamdany Manager of Al Rasheed Factory in Ministry of Industry and Minerals for their support and
helping me to complete this work.

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