A simple and economical method for the synthesis of steel-reinforced copper composite

Abstract

The present study explores a new method of steel particle-reinforced copper matrix composite synthesis. Steel reinforced copper was prepared by stir casting processing method at variable percentages between 10 wt% and 50 wt%. Characterization and mechanical testing were performed on these composites using a variety of techniques. The results showed that the microstructure of the composites has a uniform distribution of steel particles in the matrix with good interfacial integrity. Brinell hardness, tensile and yield strengths, impact energy and compressive yield strength of the composites increased with increasing steel particle contents. Vickers micro-hardness increased markedly at the interface region between particle and matrix evident by the hardness maps. The friction coefficient increased proportionally with increasing steel particle content in the composite, but the contrary was noticed for accumulative wear amount. A slight decrease in deformability is expected by increasing particle content. A ductile fracture was noticed in fractographs of fracture surfaces. Cracks are propagated in the Cu matrix up to the point of fracture, i.e. not through the interfacial boundaries.