Investigation on microstructure, mechanical, and tribological performance of Cu base hybrid composite materials

Copper matrix composites (CMC) are frequently used in the automotive, aerospace, construction, and electrical-electronics industries. Properties such as low density, improved fatigue strength, high hardness, and high specific strength are the factors that make copper matrix composites important. The development of these factors is important for the industrial use of copper matrix composites. SiCp doped metal matrix composites have better mechanical properties than pure alloys. It is also known that Ti, B powder particle additives improve the mechanical properties of the main matrix. In this study, Cu hybrid composites reinforced with Ti-B-SiCp powders, which were not produced before, were obtained and their microstructure, density, hardness, and wear behavior were investigated. Composite materials produced by powder metallurgy method were prepared at 2-8 wt. % mixing ratios. Then each material was sintered at temperatures of 950-100-1050 °C. Microstructural images showed homogenous distribution in the composite material. The highest relative density of 93% was obtained in the composite material with a 2% reinforcement rate at 1050 °C. It was found that the hardness increased with the increase of the reinforcement rate up to 6 wt.% and then decreased after that. It was observed that the specific wear rate increased with the increasing reinforcement ratio. In addition, the lowest friction coefficient and wear temperature occurred at a sintering temperature of 1050 °C. In this study, it was reported that the sinter temperature value of 1050 °C is the optimum temperature value in terms of the tribological and mechanical performance of the materials.