Tribological and mechanical performance evaluation of hybrid reinforced copper composites

Abstract

The powder metallurgy technique is utilized in this study to produce Cu matrix hybrid composites with ZrO2 reinforcements and graphite additives. This study compares composites' microstructural (theoretical, experimental, and relative density, phase morphology, type, chemical content), mechanical (microhardness), and tribological behavior (wear and friction) with 5, 10, and 15 wt% reinforcement, together with and without the effect of 2 wt% graphite additives. Homogenously ZrO2 added copper alloy was successfully produced. All samples were produced at least %90 relative density. The XRD analyses also validate the phase presence of reinforcement phase. Also the graphite was added to samples which provides self-lubrication. The graphite addition improves friction behaviour. The hardness of the composites increased as the amount of ZrO2 increased with the addition of graphite. The wear resistance of ZrO2-added copper samples was improved between 1.32 and 4.84 times better than that of copper without reinforcement.