Influence of Sintering Conditions on Specific Electrical Conductivity in Aluminum-Graphene Composite

Dependence of specific electrical resistance on temperature (20 - 1600 ∘C) and processing method in an aluminum-graphene (up to 2wt.%) composite is investigated. It is established that spark plasma sintering (SPS) under pressure 40 MPа does not influence on electrical resistance, whereas SPS at low pressure (<10 MPa) reduces electrical resistance at a room temperature on 6 orders. Lower values of electrical resistance (up to 90 Ω *mm) received at sintering in hot pressing set at radiating heating. It is supposed that the reason of sharp decrease in electrical resistance at the lowered pressure is presence of current pulsations during SPS. They induces magnetic fields in graphene flake which lead to their moving and forming of particles to electroconductive chains or their capture in arched cells at applied pressure. Keywords: composite, aluminum, graphene, electrical resistance, temperature dependence