Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cu Matrix Composites Reinforced by TiB2/TiN Ceramic Reinforcements

doi:10.1007/s40195-020-01100-5

Abstract

Abstract:

Cu matrix composites reinforced by TiB₂/TiN ceramic reinforcements (Cu/TBN composites) were prepared by hot pressing method. Prior to the hot pressing, Cu/TiB₂/TiN composite powders (CTBN powders), which were used as the starting materials of Cu/TBN composites, were fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis method. The CTBN particles were found to be in a special core-shell structure with a Cu-Ti alloy core and a TiB₂/TiN ceramic shell. The test results presented obvious improvements in mechanical properties. The highest ultimate tensile strength reached up to 297 MPa, 77 MPa higher than that of Cu. And the highest hardness reached up to 70.7 HRF, 15.7 HRF higher than that of Cu. A comparative study indicated that the core-shell structured particles could bring about more obvious strengthening effect than the traditional irregularly shaped particles, which was due to the improved Cu/ceramics interfacial bonding, the linkage strengthening effect of both TiB₂ and TiN, and higher load bearing ability of the core-shell structured reinforcements.

Key words: Cu matrix composite, Microstructure, Mechanical property, Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS)

Jinwei Yin, Peilong Zhou, Hanqin Liang, Dongxu Yao, Yongfeng Xia, Kaihui Zuo, YuPing Zeng. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cu Matrix Composites Reinforced by TiB₂/TiN Ceramic Reinforcements[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2020, 33(12): 1609-1617.

Figures/Tables 11

Table 1 Characteristics of raw powder

Powder	Grain size, d₅₀ (μm)	Purity (%)
Cu	20.7	≥99.5
Ti	5.6	≥99.99
BN	0.16	≥99.5

Table 2 Composition of the raw materials for the SHS process

Products	Composition of the raw materials
Products	Cu (g)	Ti (g)	BN (g)
A-CTBN	0	143.6	49.6
B-CTBN	143.6	143.6	44.6
C-CTBN	143.6	143.6	49.6
D-CTBN	143.6	143.6	54.6
E-CTBN	143.6	143.6	59.6

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of the CTBN powders: (a) A-CTBN, (b) B-CTBN, (c) C-CTBN, (d) D-CTBN, (e) E-CTBN

Fig. 2 Microstructure of C-CTBN powder, and EDS mapping results of Cu, Ti, B and N

Fig. 3 Typical hexagon clubbed structure of TiB2 particle

Fig. 4 Relative densities of Cu/TBN composites with different TBN contents: filled square: 1000 °C for 2 h; filled circle: 1030 °C for 2 h

Fig. 5 Hardness a and UTS b of Cu/TBN composites: filled square: 1000 °C for 2 h; filled circle: 1030 °C for 2 h. And stress-strain curves of Cu/TBN composites sintered at 1000 °C c, 1030 °C d

Fig. 6 Distribution of C-CTBN particles in the Cu/TBN composites with different TBN contents: a 1%, b 2%, c 3%, d 4%; e core-shell structure of C-CTBN composite particles

Fig. 7 Comparison of stress-strain curves: (a) Cu without any ceramics reinforcements, (b) Cu matrix composites reinforced by A-CTBN, (c) Cu matrix composites reinforced by C-CTBN

Fig. 8 TBN/Cu interfacial structure

Fig. 9 Fractured surface micrographs of specimens: a, b Cu; c, d Cu/TBN composites (Cu/C-CTBN) with 2 wt% TiB2/TiN ceramics. All specimens were sintered at 1030 °C for 2 h

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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cu Matrix Composites Reinforced by TiB₂/TiN Ceramic Reinforcements

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