THE EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF ZEOLITE PARTICLES ON THE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF SINTERED COPPER MATRIX COMPOSITES

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research on the possibilities of producing and using copper–zeolite composites obtained by powder metallurgy. The zeolite powder (0.0–0.2 mm fraction) used in the experiments was ground tuff rock extracted from the Kucin Quarry (VSK PRO-ZEO s.r.o.) in Slovakia. The as-delivered material was imaged and analysed using the SEM/EDS and XRD techniques. Before the sintering process, one-sided pressing was applied to the hydraulic press at a pressure of 620 MPa. The sintering process was carried out in a laboratory tube furnace at 900°C in an atmosphere of dissociated ammonia. The sintering time was 60 minutes. The resulting agglomerates were subjected to the following tests: measurements of density, hardness, electrical conductivity, and abrasion resistance. Observations of the microstructure on metallographic specimens made from the sintered samples were also performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Zeolite was introduced into the copper matrix in the amounts of 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% by weight. The introduction of zeolite particles into the matrix as the strengthening phase caused an increase in the hardness of sinters while lowering a density and electrical conductivity. The introduction of zeolite particles caused a decrease in abrasion resistance for a composite containing up to 7.5% zeolite. The increase in abrasion resistance was observed for the composite containing 10% zeolite particles.