Development and characterization of Cu-Ni- Al2O3 surface composite developed by friction stir process technique

Abstract

In this study, a copper-based composite reinforced with Al2O3 and Ni with different weight percent was produced using the Friction Stir Processing (FSP) technique. The macrostructure and microstructure of the composite were characterized to understand the arrangement and distribution of the reinforcement particles. The wettability of the composite was evaluated to determine its ability of reinforcement to interact with the matrix material. Uniform distribution and fair interaction of Al2O3 and Ni particles were found in the Cu-based matrix material Tensile and hardness tests were conducted to measure the mechanical properties of the composite and assess its strength and resistance to deformation. The hardness and tensile strength of copper after the addition of 5 % Al2O3 and 2 % Ni was improved by about 43.33 % and 50.45 % respectively. The number of grains was found to be about 2740.07 per square inch for Cu/5 % Al2O3/2 % Ni processed composite with FSP per square inch at 500 magnifications. Additionally, wear analysis was carried out to investigate the wear behavior of the composite under specific loading conditions. XRD analysis was performed to examine the crystallographic behavior and integrity of the composite. The identified phases of the Cu/Al2O3/Ni composite after XRD analysis were Cu, Al2O3, Ni, and Cu2O. The results obtained from these various analyses provided valuable insights into the structural, mechanical, and wettability properties of the copper-based composite reinforced with Al2O3 and Ni, fabricated using the FSP technique.