The prospects for low-cost and facile fabrication of zinc/graphene composite coatings and structural materials

Abstract

This work reviews a low-cost and facile method for the fabrication of graphene nanofiller reinforced zinc-based metal matrix composite (MMC). The work aims to discuss various methods for fabricating zinc/graphene composite and find the best suitable way to reinforce uniformly dispersed graphene nanofillers in a zinc matrix without damaging its structural shape. The discussions are based on the robustness of the methods to fabricate MMCs for coatings and structural materials. The work summarised that the electrochemical co-deposition is the best suitable method for mixing graphene nanofiller with zinc matrix at room temperature without any harsh processing technique, which retains the structural shape of graphene. Moreover, the in-situ electrochemical co-deposition is suitable for coating fabrication and replaces the harsh ball milling process to prepare a powder mixture of metal matrix composite (MMCs) for the powder metallurgy process. This review work may help to provide feasible solutions for challenges in fabricating zinc/ graphene composites and other future MMCs.