Mechanical characterization of cold welding doped with graphite

Cold welding is a technique used to join metals, plastics, and rubbers through chemical adhesives and mechanical bonding. This technique is useful in applications where it is mandatory to maintain the structure and properties of the materials joined or when the materials are susceptible to heat. In this research work, cold welding doped with graphite was evaluated by means of a full factorial experiment, varying the volume fraction of graphite nanopowder from 0 to 0.1% and the exposure times to salty fog from 0 to 14 days according to the standard ASTM B117. The responses of the factorial experiment were the adhesion of the cold welding in rods of aluminum 6061, the Brinell hardness, and the electrical resistivity. It was observed that for the volume fraction concentrations of graphite nanopowder mixed in the cold welding, there was no significant evidence that it affected the mechanical properties measured, however, the resistivity was strongly affected by the presence of graphite nanopowder.