Microstructure, mechanical, electrical and wear properties of friction stir back extruded copper-6 vol.%Ti2SnC composite material

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of extrusion speed on the microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties, and wear resistance of friction stir back extruded Cu-6 vol.% Ti2SnC composite. The findings reveal that severe plastic deformation and heat generated during friction stir back extrusion (FSBE) of Copper-6 vol.% Ti2SnC composite prevented the formation of inter metallics at the particle-matrix interface and resulted in improved bonding. Increasing the speed from 45 to 85 mm/min reduced the maximum plastic strain from 65 to 48 and increased the strain gradient from the surface to the centre of the wire sample. The average grain size decreased from 7.6 ± 0.3 to 3.6 ± 0.2 µm and the average hardness increased from 121.59 ± 8.87 to 130.06 ± 9.95 HV. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation decreased by 5.6%, 24% and 12.7% respectively. Wires obtained at the reduced speed of 45 mm/min exhibited an increase of 13% and 26% in electrical conductivity and wear resistance respectively relative to those of the copper matrix material. Analysis of results in the light of a few models indicate that they are in conformity with the results of some of them.