Modification of the Mechanical Properties of Vitreous Enameled Aluminium Substrate Adding Graphene Flakes

Vitreous enamel is a very interesting materials thanks to its glassy nature, which permitsto obtain high protection against corrosion and fire. In addition, the smooth surface with an elevatehardness favors good abrasion resistance. However, a negative aspect of this kind of coating is thehigh brittleness, which limits the application in case of impulsive or high loads. The nucleation andpropagation of cracks leads to the destruction of layer integrity with loss of properties. In recent years graphene has received increasing attention as toughening addictive for organic and metal coatings as well as composite materials. This work is a first attempt to evaluate if the addition of graphene in an enamel deposit can increase its mechanical properties. The graphene was mixed with the dry frit. A milling process was then carried out before producing the torbida. In this way the formation of graphene clusters and accumulations is prevented. The addition of 1% graphene has shown to be effective in the increase of mechanical properties without negative influence on the deposit microstructure.