Mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of graphene nanosheet/aluminum nitride composites

Graphene nanosheet (GNS)/aluminum nitride (AlN) composites were prepared by hot-pressing and effects of GNSs on their microstructural, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties were investigated. At 1.49 vol% GNSs content, the fracture toughness (5.09 MPa m1/2) and flexural strength (441 MPa) of the composite were significantly increased by 30.17% and 17.28%, respectively, compared to monolithic AlN. The electrical conductivity of the composites was effectively enhanced with the addition of GNSs, and showed a typical percolation behavior with a low percolation threshold of 2.50±0.4 vol%. The thermal conductivity of the composites decreased with the addition of GNSs.