Production Of Composites Research Articles

Formation of composites with an aluminum matrix reinforced with tungsten carbide nanoparticles

Relevance. The fact that composites with a metal matrix and structural products based on them are in great demand in various industries, including the automotive industry, aerospace industry, and shipbuilding. Aluminum matrix composites are the most popular since they combine the excellent ductility, low density, good corrosion resistance of aluminum and the high strength, hardness and wear resistance of a ceramic reinforcing component. Aim. To obtain bulk Al-WC metal matrix composites with different contents of the reinforcing phase and with increased physical and mechanical characteristics using spark plasma sintering. Objects. Sintered bulk products made of pure aluminum and obtained at 400, 450, 500, 550, 600°C and bulk metal matrix composites Al-1%WC, Al-5%WC, Al-10%WC, Al-15%WC obtained at 600°C. Methods. Spark plasma sintering; X-ray diffractometry (XRD phase analysis); scanning electron microscopy; indentation (microhardness measurement). Results. The authors have obtained bulk composite metal matrix products with an aluminum matrix and tungsten carbide as a reinforcing component. Compacting mixtures of nanosized initial powders of aluminum and tungsten carbide using spark plasma sintering made it possible to obtain products with a WC content of 1 to 15 wt %. Taking into account the results of a preliminary series of experiments, when pure aluminum samples were sintered to determine the optimal sintering temperature, bulk composite materials were obtained. A distinctive feature of the obtained samples is their high degree of compaction, which is due to the simultaneous application of a heating current and external pressure, coupled with the relative preservation of the fine-grained structure of the material due to the short process time. The analysis of various sintering modes revealed the need to carry out sintering of composites at 600°C. The research has shown that, although adding a reinforcing phase to a metal matrix significantly reduces the degree of compaction of the material from 97.45% in the absence of an additive to 62.32% with the addition of 15%WC, an increase in the microhardness of products is observed when the concentration of the reinforcing component increases from 3.95 to 5.75 HV. This proves the possibility of reinforcing a metal material using ceramic WC particles. The results can be used in a variety of structural applications, including automotive and aerospace.

Magnetic Field Induction ZnFe2O4@Carbon for Construction of a PVDF‐HFP‐Based 3D Dielectric Network

AbstractFunctional fillers in the polymerization system cannot be arranged in an orderly manner when exposed to natural conditions. The application of magnetic fields in the material preparation process has been shown to greatly enhance the distribution of functional fillers, leading to the organized alignment of functional fillers and the production of polymer matrix composites with remarkable characteristics. In this experiment, rod‐like ZnFe2O4 was synthesized by reverse microemulsion method, and amorphous carbon was coated on the surface of ZnFe2O4 by freeze‐drying method to obtain ZnFe2O4@Carbon core‐shell particles. The composite films were prepared by dispersing ZnFe2O4 with different volume contents into P(VDF‐HFP) matrix. The external parallel magnetic field was used to manipulate the ZnFe2O4@C/P(VDF‐HFP) composite film during the hot‐pressing process, resulting in an oriented ZnFe2O4@C/P(VDF‐HFP) composite film. The experiment revealed that when ZnFe2O4@C is aligned with the film orientation, the dielectric constant of the composite film is 50(50 Hz), which is 130 % higher than that of the unoriented composite film and 290 % higher than that of pure P(VDF‐HFP). When the filling amount is 40 Vol.%, the energy storage density of ZnFe2O4@C/P(VDF‐HFP) composite film is 1.18 times higher than that of unoriented composite material and 1.32 times higher than that of pure P(VDF‐HFP).

Micropatterning of biologically derived surfaces with functional clay nanotubes

ABSTRACT Micropatterning of biological surfaces performed via assembly of nano-blocks is an efficient design method for functional materials with complex organic–inorganic architecture. Halloysite clay nanotubes with high aspect ratios and empty lumens have attracted widespread interest for aligned biocompatible composite production. Here, we give our vision of advances in interfacial self-assembly techniques for these natural nanotubes. Highly ordered micropatterns of halloysite, such as coffee rings, regular strips, and concentric circles, can be obtained through high-temperature evaporation-induced self-assembly in a confined space and shear-force brush-induced orientation. Assembly of these clay nanotubes on biological surfaces, including the coating of human or animal hair, wool, and cotton, was generalized with the indication of common features. Halloysite-coated microfibers promise new approaches in cotton and hair dyeing, medical hemostasis, and flame-retardant tissue applications. An interfacial halloysite assembly on oil microdroplets (Pickering emulsion) and its core–shell structure (functionalization with quantum dots) was described in comparison with microfiber nanoclay coatings. In addition to being abundantly available in nature, halloysite is also biosafe, which makes its spontaneous surface micropatterning prospective for high-performance materials, and it is a promising technique with potential for an industrial scale-up.

Investigating the Out-of-Plane Bending Stiffness Properties in Hybrid Species Diagonal-Cross-Laminated Timber Panels

Since the introduction of Cross-laminated Timber (CLT) in Austria in the early 1990s, the adoption of this 90°-crosswise-laminated product has seen exponential growth worldwide. Compared to traditional laminated timber products (e.g., glulam), CLT provides improved dimensional stability but with reduced out-of-plane bending stiffness. To improve the bending stiffness, while maintaining relative dimensional stability, a modified orientation of the inner layers in a diagonal direction can be used. This novel product is Diagonal-Cross-laminated Timber (DCLT), a composite timber product, consisting of inner layers which are rotated at different angle-ply orientations between 0 and 90 degrees to the outer layers. To properly model the out-of-plane bending behavior of the DCLT, analytical models and finite element analysis (FEA) were used, and the results were validated by four-point bending tests performed on DCLT panels with angle-ply orientations of 10°, 20°, 40°, 70°, and a conventional CLT 90° panel. The results indicate that DCLT panels with angle-ply cross layers have a structural advantage in out-of-plane bending over traditional CLT (90°) panels. The apparent bending stiffness from DCLT 90° to DCLT ± 10° has an increase of 33%, 24%, and 35%, respectively, regarding the assessed methods of experimental, theoretical, and FEM modeling. Using these panels would allow for increased spans or load-carrying capacity for a given panel span-to-depth ratio. The development of DCLT and its introduction to the industry not only could enable the use of lower-quality timber that would not otherwise satisfy structural requirements for CLT but also could help reduce the fabrication cost of CLT due to utilizing lower amounts of fiber.

Production strategies for carbon composites and carbon-based adsorbents

Abstract Xenobiotics, hazardous compounds, and emerging contaminants contribute risk to the ecosystem, and the most effective way to reduce their harmful effects is to utilize different carbon-based composites and carbon adsorbents. Adsorption is considered a highly effective approach for eliminating pollutants. Various adsorbent materials, such as nanomaterials, natural materials, and biological biomasses, have been recognized as effective adsorbents for different contaminants. Carbon-based adsorbents are often highly flexible for cleanup because of their exceptional physical and chemical characteristics. This review presents the various forms of carbon composites as an adsorbent and their production strategies. The selection of synthesis methods and the operational parameters are found to be the key factors in determining the nature of the adsorbent and its adsorption efficiency. The pretreatment, activation, and coupling of other agents in the production of carbon composites are found to increase the adsorption efficiency of the material. The study extensively concentrated on the advancements in synthesizing carbon-sourced composites and sorbents. The research gap and the -utilization possibilities of diverse carbon composites in the removal of pollutants are also discussed.

Convection‐Permitting ICON‐LAM Simulations for Renewable Energy Potential Estimates Over Southern Africa

AbstractRenewable energy is recognized in Africa as a means for climate change mitigation, but also to provide access to electricity in sub‐Saharan Africa, where three‐quarters of the global population without electricity resides. Reliable and highly resolved renewable energy potential (REP) information is indispensable to support power plants expansion. Existing atmospheric data sets over Africa that are used for REP estimates are often characterized by data gaps, or coarse resolution. With the aim to overcome these challenges, the ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON) Numerical Weather Prediction (ICON‐NWP) model in its Limited Area Mode (ICON‐LAM) is implemented and run over southern Africa in a hindcast dynamical downscaling setup at a convection‐permitting 3.3 km horizontal resolution. The simulation time span covers contrasting solar and wind weather years from 2017 to 2019. To assess the suitability of the novel simulations for REP estimates, the simulated hourly 10 m wind speed (sfcWind) and hourly surface solar irradiance (rsds) are extensively evaluated against a large compilation of in situ observations, satellite, and composite data products. ICON‐LAM reproduces the spatial patterns, temporal evolution, the variability, and absolute values of sfcWind sufficiently well, albeit with a slight overestimation and a mean bias (mean error (ME)) of 1.12 m s−1 over land. Likewise the simulated rsds with an ME of 50 W m−2 well resembles the observations. This new ICON simulation data product will be the basis for ensuing REP estimates that will be compared with existing lower resolution data sets.

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12/reduced graphene oxide composites for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical products: Ibuprofen and Ciprofloxacin.

The objective of this research is to create a highly effective approach for eliminating pollutants from the environment through the process of photocatalytic degradation. The study centers around the production of composites consisting of CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using an ultrasonic-assisted method, with a focus on their capacity to degrade ibuprofen (IBF) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) via photodegradation. The impact of rGO on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of CCTO was inspected using XRD, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, XPS, BET, and UV-Vis. Morphology characterization showed that rGO particles were dispersed within the CCTO matrix without any specific chemical interaction between CCTO and C in the rGO. The BET analysis revealed that with increasing the amount of rGO in the composite, the specific surface area significantly increased compared to the CCTO standalone. Besides, increasing rGO resulted in a reduction in the optical bandgap energy to around 2.09 eV, makes it highly promising photocatalyst for environmental applications. The photodegradation of IBF and CIP was monitored using visible light irradiation. The results revealed that both components were degraded above 97% after 60 min. The photocatalyst showed an excellent reusability performance with a slight decrease after five runs to 93% photodegradation efficiency.

Development of polylactic acid‐untreated bamboo filler composite and its chemical and mechanical properties

AbstractA fully bio‐based plastic composite comprising a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix with untreated bamboo filler (BF) was manufactured by a simple method. PLA and crushed bamboo flakes were compounded in a kneader and then injection molded without pretreatment of BF. The composites containing PLA and BF at 50:50 (PLA50/BF50) and 60:40 mass ratios (PLA60/BF40) were obtained. The PLA60/BF40 and PLA50/BF50 products were evaluated by thermal analysis (TG/DTA, DSC, and DMA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, and abrasive wear test. From the results, the composite of PLA and untreated BF was fabricated under high temperature and high‐pressure conditions, in kneading at 180°C and injection molding at 150–175°C and 95 MPa for 1.5 s. FTIR analysis indicated that changes in the functional groups of the composite products were dependent on the proportion of BF. Unfortunately, the BF did not improve the stiffness, viscoelasticity, and wear resistance of the PLA. However, the PLA50/BF50 product had a storage modulus comparable to that of the pure PLA product, and of which a 30% cost reduction was achieved by using abundant bamboo and reducing the amount of PLA.

Exploring the potential of Tamarindus indica stem short macro fibers reinforced guar gum resin green composites

In this study, Tamarindus indica stem fibers and guar gum resin matrix have been used for the production of green composites with varying fiber lengths of 4, 8, and 12 mm and fiber loading of 5%, 10%, and 15 wt%, by hand lay-up process. The green composites were subjected to Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, thermal, mechanical, fractography, and water absorption tests as per American Standard Testing of Materials standards. The composites displayed a significant absorption peak at 3303 cm−1, signifying the existence of a hydroxyl group, as indicated by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the composites were thermally stable up to 225 °C and displayed an endothermic peak at 103 °C. Untreated 4 mm fiber length and 15% fiber loading in the matrix material resulted in superior tensile and flexural characteristics, with values of 23.87 and 33.21 MPa, respectively, compared to other green composites. The composite with a 12 mm fiber length and 5% fiber load exhibited the highest impact resistance, with a load of 75 kJ/mm2, and demonstrated better resistance to water absorption. Furthermore, an eco-friendly flowerpot was developed using the mechanically optimized US0415 green composite material under real-world conditions.

Assessment of mechanical properties and shape memory behavior of 4D printed continuous fiber-reinforced PETG composites

Additive manufacturing (AM) has transformed composite structure production with continuous fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs). Integrating shape memory polymers (SMPs) into AM enables 4D printing, holding promise across industries. Despite SMP brittleness at low temperatures, most studies focus on high-temperature shape memory behavior. Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), known for good printability, shape memory, and room temperature flexibility, is reinforced with carbon fiber in this study and its chemical and thermo-mechanical properties are systematically evaluated. The investigation extends to assessing the influence of printing parameters on CFRC printability and mechanical properties to identify optimal settings. Mechanical property enhancement is significant, especially with 7% carbon fiber, resulting in 474% and 386% improvement in tensile and flexural modulus, respectively. Shape-recovery tests at room temperature show 98% recovery for pure PETG and 94% for composites. PETG CFRC's high mechanical properties, room temperature flexibility, and promising shape recovery position them for potential load-bearing applications in various industries.

Reproductive and productive performance of hair sheep in a semi-intensive system in southeastern Mexico

Productivity measured as kilograms of lamb weaned per ewe is a composite trait of economic importance and can be used as selection criterion of maternal breeds. The objective of this study was to estimate the reproductive, preweaning growth and productivity performance of hair breed ewes, and the effect some nongenetic factors influencing them under semi-intensive conditions in southeastern, Mexico. Information of purebreds and crossbred ewes and their lambs was used to develop a composite productivity index. The final mixed model used (except for age at first lambing, AFL), included the fixed effect of breed group, year (Y, 2016-2019) and season of lambing (dry, rainy and wind and rainy), lambing number (1, 2, … ≥ 5), litter size (LS, single and double for weaning traits), and the random effects of ewe within breed group and residual error. Except for the AFL, the effect of the breed group and all other non-genetic factors were significant (P < 0.0100). No breed or crossbred was superior for all traits studied, yet Katahdin breed (K) excelled the most, despite of its reproductive performance. Traits in the productivity index (litter size at lambing, adjusted litter weaning weight and lambing interval) could not be used as an optimal indicator for the identification of the best breed for crossbreeding. The K showed the best maternal ability, except for lambing interval and AFL, influenced by all non-genetic factors which could be improved by sound flock management.

Screening of salt hydrates and cellulose nanocrystal composites for thermochemical energy storage using life cycle assessment

Salt hydrate systems via thermochemical reactions can provide thermal storage for renewable-sourced alternatives to traditional heating systems like natural gas. In this study, we use life cycle analysis (LCA) along with the material prices to screen salts based on environmental impact and cost. Additionally, we performed LCA of producing a composite material of salt and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) at a weight ratio of four to one. CNC is a stabilizing agent for salt. We assessed the salt-CNC composites based on a laboratory scale and scaled-up processing to identify low environmental impact formulations and to identify high environmental impact processes in the composite production. In general, lanthanum chloride, lithium hydroxide, and lithium chloride should be avoided due to high environmental impact or cost. For pure salts, our results showed magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate, and calcium chloride are typically preferred with a close second tier of magnesium and strontium chlorides and strontium bromide. For the composite material, magnesium sulfate was preferred followed by zinc sulfate, sodium sulfide, and strontium chloride. CNC has a significant environmental impact, contributing over 50% of the environmental impact for these composites. Therefore, CNC production with lower environmental impacts needs to be pursued. In composite production, the environmental impact of mixing and sonication can be reduced by scaling production. However, drying remains a high-impact process. These results can help guide salt selection for other salt-based thermochemical materials and further development of the salt-CNC composite.

Enhancing mechanical and wear performances of magnesium matrix composites using low-cost squid quill ash

The increasing demand for lightweight, cost-effective aerospace and automotive components with higher performance promotes interest in the use of naturally occurring materials, such as magnesium composites with natural and low-cost reinforcements. This research focuses on stir casting to reinforce magnesium matrix composites with squid quill ash (SQA) particles, aiming to improve their mechanical and wear performances. The results show that the mechanical and wear properties of magnesium matrix composites can be improved significantly by increasing the SQA content. Incorporating 10% SQA reinforcements in AZ91 magnesium alloy leads to a maximum increase in hardness, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength by 32.34%, 18.86%, and 12.34%, respectively. When compared to the matrix alloy, the wear resistance of the composites reinforced with 5 wt% and 10 wt% of SQA particles is improved by 14.05% and 30.81%, respectively. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of using SQA particles in the production of magnesium matrix composites. This not only reduces environmental impact by repurposing SQA, but also provides a practical method for the economical utilization of SQA particles in the fabrication of magnesium matrix composites for aerospace and automotive applications.

Constructing ‘bayberry shape’ structure on HGMs surface using CNTs to enhance the mechanical properties of HGMs/epoxy composites

The lightweight composites, composed of epoxy resin (EP) and hollow glass microspheres (HGMs), have been widely applied in marine buoyancy materials, insulation for marine pipelines, and aerospace. However, achieving lower density often requires a significant addition of HGMs, leading to a compromise in mechanical properties. To address this problem, this paper proposes a method to enhance the mechanical properties of HGMs/EP composites without altering the HGMs content. Here, the ‘bayberry shape’ structure of HGMs was achieved by chemically grafting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto their surface through an esterification reaction. Subsequently, a lightweight CNTs-HGMs/EP composite with improved strength was fabricated using these ‘bayberry’ HGMs as fillers and EP as the matrix. The effect of different grafted-CNTs content on HGMs' surface on the mechanical properties of CNTs-HGMs/EP composites, along with the enhancement mechanism, were systematically analyzed. The tensile strength, flexural strength and compressive strength of CNTs-HGMs/EP composites demonstrated remarkable increases of 39.14%, 21.78% and 17.87%, respectively, compared to pure HGMs/EP composites. Our results demonstrate that surface modification of HGMs could significantly improved the mechanical properties of HGMs/EP composites without affecting their density. Moreover, this method was characterized by its simplicity in operation and batch preparation, which holds great significance for the efficient production of lightweight composites.

The use of clay from the Herpegezh deposit for the production of ready-made compositions for the preparation of drilling fluids

The preparation of drilling fluids from ready-made compositions allows you to reduce costs, including by obtaining the drilling mud of the required composition with an optimal consumption of reagents, simplifying technological equipment and reducing requirements for the qualification of maintenance personnel. One of the most common components of drilling fluids are clays, therefore, one of the important tasks is to study clays from various deposits in order to establish the possibility of their use in the production of compositions for the preparation of drilling fluids. The purpose of this study was to establish the chemical and technological characteristics of the clays of the Herpegezh deposit and to develop recommendations for the preparation of finished compositions. Particular attention was paid to the choice of the method of activation of raw materials, ensuring the maximum possible productivity, in particular, the traditional method of activation and mechanical activation in the disintegrator were compared. Also, as a result of the conducted experiments and processing of their results, the dependences of the technological characteristics of the drilling mud prepared from the Herpegezh clays on the mass fraction of the clay substance were established.

SURFACE FUNCTIONALIZATION OF KENAF FIBERS WITH LAUROYL CHLORIDE: EFFECTS OF ALKALINE PRETREATMENT METHOD

Surface functionalization of cellulose fibers is the current focus of research seeking to develop composite materials for various applications. One reason is the low compatibility of natural cellulose-based fibers with thermoplastic matrices for the production of wood-plastic composites. In this research, kenaf fibers (KF) were esterified with lauroyl chloride. Before the esterification reaction, two alkaline pretreatment methods were used: Bain-Marie at low temperature, and at high temperature and pressure in the digester. SEM results showed a smoother surface morphology after esterification. ATR-FTIR results confirmed the substitution of hydroxyl groups of cellulose with lauroylate functional groups. Increasing the carbon content in EDX spectroscopy further supported the successful esterification of kenaf fibers, which is in accordance with ATR-FTIR findings. Based on ATR-FTIR and EDX results, the Bain-Marie pretreatment method was more effective for the esterification reaction. According to the XRD results, the crystallinity index of the fibers slightly increased after esterification reaction. However, the fibers pretreated in the digester had a higher crystallinity index, which was related to efficient removal of amorphous regions due to higher temperature and pressure used in the digester process. This research showed that alkaline pretreatment in Bain-Marie was more effective for the surface functionalization of cellulose fibers than the digester process. These results can be applied in future research works for esterification of cellulose fibers.

Effect of Layers Number on The Bending Properties of Chestnut Glulam Beams

In recent years, advances in adhesive and lamination technologies have offered significant opportunities in the production of high-quality and valuable products from low-quality and non-durable cheap wood raw materials. Lamination generally refers to a multilayer material production method. The main goal of this production process is to develop and improve many properties of the created composite product, such as durability and stability. Laminated timber, called glulam, is a layered composite material formed by preparing timber fibers parallel to each other and gluing them together with the help of glue. In this study, the bending properties of solid, 3-layer and 5-layer glulam beams produced from chestnut tree species were investigated experimentally and numerically. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 5-layer glulam beams is 13.39% higher than 3-layer beams and 48.31% higher than solid beams. The modulus of rupture (MOR) value of the 5-layer beam is 24.21% higher than the 3-layer beam and 65.28% higher than the solid beam. There is a maximum difference of 2% between the experimental and numerical analysis results. When the results are compared, it is seen that the results are close to each other.

On color adjustment potential and color blending threshold of dental composite resins.

Color Adjustment Potential evaluates the color blending of dental Composite Resins. While Color Adjustment Potential is simple, its clinical relevance is unclear. This research aims to understand it better and to create an index for Composite Resins with meaningful clinical interpretation. Single and double shade composite disks of various diameters and opacities were created to test the indices. Color measurements used a dental colorimeter, avoiding subjective assessments. Color Adjustment Potential analysis of each material revealed insights, leading to the creation of a new Color Blending Threshold, providing a clinically relevant numerical value for Composite Resins. Color Adjustment Potential's numerical significance was clarified and introduced a new index for clinical applications. Color adaptation of each test shade to all Vita shades was also calculated, useful for single-shade restorations in open and closed cavity types. The proposed Color Blending Threshold defines the open/closed cavity dimension that can be adequately restored with a single shade of resin composite. Understanding how dental materials adapt to surrounding tooth colors enhances esthetic restorations, simplifies shade matching, and optimizes resin composite production. The proposed Color Blending Threshold is a parameter that directly relates to the clinical significance of a material's true color blending ability. It defines the cavity dimension that can be adequately restored with a single shade of resin composite while ensuring that the resulting color difference falls below a predetermined threshold, meeting the clinical requirements for an esthetic restoration.

The Influence of Graphite Filler on the Self-Lubricating Properties of Epoxy Composites.

In this work, epoxy composites filled with flake graphite of various size (less than 10 μm and less than 45 μm) were produced. The aim of the research was to develop a self-lubricating material with favorable tribological properties, i.e., reduced friction coefficient compared to unfilled epoxy resin and limited abrasive wear. The research material was produced using technical epoxy resins based on bisphenol A. The detailed process of composite production was described, and typical technological problems were considered. The addition of graphite led to an increase in dynamic viscosity, which positively limits the phenomenon of sedimentation, but an increase in the filler content also led to an increase in the porosity of the material. A series of tests have shown that the addition of graphite above 5% by weight allows for a reduction in the friction coefficient from 0.6 to 0.4 and significantly reduces the material's tendency to abrasive wear.

Spark Plazma Sinterlenmiş Cu-SiC Kompozitlerinin Fiziko-Mekanik ve Elektriksel Özelliklerinin Değerlendirilmesi

In this study, SiC reinforced Cu matrix composites were produced by spark plasma sintering to provide rapid consolidation and to prevent weak interfacial bonding and grain growth, undesired phases at the interphase region. In addition, the influence of the reinforcement ratio (vol.% 10, 20, 30) and particle sizes (1, 11, 24 µm) on the physico-mechanical (density, hardness) and electrical characteristics of copper composite materials was aimed. The bulk density values were determined by Archimedes’ method, SEM, EDS, and XRD analysis were used to identify microstructural factors and phase analysis. It was found that the selection of the appropriate sintering regime is very important for composite samples to reach nearly fully dense Cu-SiC composites with proper interfacial bonding between Cu and SiC grains without the formation of any undesired phases, results in very high relative density (min. 99.48%), low total porosity (0,15-0,52), good hardness (HV 122-186) and electrical conductivity. When fine SiC grains (~1 micron) are used and the amount of SiC increases, the hardness value of the composites was effectively improved without much loss in electrical conductivity. In this respect, this study provides an effective solution for the production of Cu-SiC composites with excellent combined performance.