Analysis of Functional Properties of Cu-Al2O3 Particulate Reinforced Composites. A First Assessment: Elaboration

The possibilities of Cu-Al2O3 particulate reinforced composites, of competitive functional properties, processing by the classical powder metallurgy route have been investigated taking into consideration its known technical and economical advantages in respect to the known worldwide investigated technological routes of their processing. The adopted compositions, of (5.0÷20.0) [vol.%] Al2O3, were selected in agreement with published data for a large range of applications. Pharmaceutical homogenization method applied for powder mixtures preparation proved to assure a high homogeneity, evidenced by SEM and EDS analyses. Their determined compressibility has shown that, for all compositions, the obtainable compactness is very close to that of pure Cu (even over 94 %). Cold uniaxial compaction at 500 and 700 MPa, and subsequent sintering in argon of high purity at 800 °C for 45 and 60 min have been adopted for composites realization. The performed analysis of the compacting pressure and sintering time influence on the composite compactness proved that, beside the above specified values obtaining for 700 MPa and 60 minute processing parameters, high enough values, acceptable for numerous applications, can be also obtained at 500 MPa and 60 or even 45 minutes. Finally, microstructural analysis highlighted that, by the adopted processing conditions, a high uniformity of Al2O3 particles distribution in the Cu matrix can been assured, both creating premises for obtaining good functional properties of Cu-Al2O3 composites, proving the competitiveness of the investigated PM route for their elaboration.