Fabrication of CK45/RGO Nanocomposite Using Machining Chips Recycling and Spark Plasma Sintering

Recycling approaches are emerging as intriguing and sustainable topics for environmental safety. Machining chips offer the possibility of reuse in more sustainable and cost-effective production pathways, such as producing powder from milled scraps for additive manufacturing. Recycling practical materials like steel with low processing costs, combining economic and engineering advantages, presents a vital demand for designing more sustainable and reliable components for the aerospace and automotive industries. The present study utilizes CK45 steel for recycling and, by generating machining scraps in a closed-loop cycle, achieves a unique combination of material properties. The produced composites containing 0.1% and 0.2% weight percentages of reduced graphene oxide are fabricated using spark plasma sintering. They undergo hardness, compression, wear, and corrosion tests, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD analysis for comprehensive characterization. Hardness and wear tests reveal that these waste materials possess suitable hardness for use in parts manufacturing for industries in which the Hardness and wear resistance are important factors in service conditions. The results of hardness and wear investigations indicate an increase in hardness by 140 units and a weight reduction of 18 mg in the produced samples compared to the cast sample.