Processing and Property Evaluation of Nano Al2O3 Reinforced Copper- 5% Tin Composites for Bearing Applications

Abstract

Nano technology has fascinated the attention of numerous material scientists and design engineers. The nano scaled particulates incorporation exhibit many attractive and special properties. The inclusion of nano particulates into the copper matrix might augments the hardness, ultimate tensile strength and yield strength significantly increases, maintaining the ductility. In this paper, the nano Al2O3 reinforced copper - 5%tin- metal matrix composites were manufactured by stir casting technique and reinforcement is varied from 0wt. % to 9wt. % in ventures of 3wt. %. The nano composites are characterized in terms of their mechanical and wear properties. Results revealed that, the distribution of nano Al2O3 particulates is fairly uniform in copper - 5%tin metal matrix. As the level of reinforcement increases, hardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and wear resistance of the copper - 5%tin – nano Al2O3 metal matrix composites increases. The developed nano metal matrix composites may be an alternative material for bearing applications