Experimental investigations on microstructure and properties of copper matrix composites produced by powder metallurgy technique

Abstract

In the present scenario, Copper Matrix Composites (CMCs) are newlineused in wide range of engineering applications such as aerospace, automobile newlineand military industries given its unique properties like high strength, high newlinehardness, low wear resistance, and low corrosion rate. Many research works newlinehave been carried out to synthesize metal matrix composites and using newlinetraditional particulate reinforcements namely, B4C, Al2O3, TiO2, and Gr newlineparticles. Among these Silicon Carbide (SiC), Yttrium Oxide (Y2O3) and newlineTitanium Carbide (TiC) reinforcements are popular to synthesis Cu based newlinecomposite through PM route. newlineThe different compositions of Cu-SiC, Cu-SiC-Y2O3 and Cu-SiC-TiC newlinecomposites were fabricated using Silicon Carbide (99.99% purity and size newlinelt100and#956;m), Yttrium Oxide (99.99% purity and size 25-50nm) and Titanium newlineCarbide (99.99% purity and size 30-50nm) as reinforcements, in various newlineweight percentages. Copper powder having 99% purity and size lt 75 and#956;m was newlineused as matrix material. Powder metallurgy route was employed to fabricate newlinethe samples. newlineThe required quantities of the powders were exactly weighed with newlinean electronic weighing scale in order to prepare different composites. The newlinemixing was accomplished using a planetary ball milling machine at a speed of newline300 rpm for a duration of 3 hours.10 mm diameter tungsten carbide balls were newlineused in the high energy ball mill and 20:1weight ratio of ball to charge was newlinemaintained. After the ball milling process, the blended powder was newlinecompacted into cylindrical billets of size 20 mm diameter x 15 mm height by newlinecold compaction method. A hydraulic press with a punch and die set was used newlinefor compaction and zinc stearate powder was used as lubricant to prevent newlinepowder adhering to the punch, die and butt newline