Densification of Mo-CuNi composite obtained through laser sintering: influence of the metallic matrix content

Abstract

The present paper reports results on the manufacturing of a composite material composed of a CuNi metallic matrix reinforced with Mo, used to manufacture EDM electrodes, through laser sintering (LS). The effect of nickel content in the metallic matrix and the effect of the matrix content on the composite composition on densification and porosity of laser sintered samples were evaluated experimentally. Results were analyzed and allowed for the following conclusions: Mo-CuNi composite samples could be produced by LS successfully; a higher nickel content in samples’ metallic matrix lead to higher densification; increasing the matrix content also reduced the porosity of parts, yet with higher matrix contents, such effect was limited; samples with low matrix content lead to high porosity and agglomeration of Mo particles.