Investigating the effects of hybrid reinforcement particles on the microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of friction stir processed copper surface composites

Abstract

Friction Stir Processing (FSP) technique was employed in this research to fabricate copper surface composites through incorporating a hybrid mixture of reinforcement particles. Hybrid combination of advanced nitride based ceramic particles (25% AlN + 75% BN) was dispersed onto the surface of copper matrix at varying volume fractions through FSP technique. Results demonstrated an increase in mechanical properties with respect to increase in the amount of particle dispersion. Mechanism of fracture for developed set of surface composites was studied with the aid of fractography. A tremendous increase in wear resistance was observed with respect to increase in hybrid particle dispersion owing to the hardness and self-lubricating characteristics of dispersed ceramic particles.