Effect of Cu 2O on the fabrication of SiC p/Cu nanocomposites using coated particles and conventional sintering

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Vol. 35; no. 11; pp. 1301 - 1305
• Main Authors: Zhang, Rui, Gao, Lian, Guo, Jingkun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2004
• Subjects: A. Metal-matrix composites (MMCs); A. Particle-reinforcement; B. Wettability; E. Sintering; B. Wettability; E. Sintering; A. Particle-reinforcement; A. Metal-matrix composites (MMCs)
• ISSN: 1359-835X; 1878-5840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2004.03.021

SiC particulate-reinforced copper composites were fabricated using coated particles and conventional atmospheric sintering. Characterization of the copper coated SiC submicron particles and the composites sintered in nitrogen or ammonia atmosphere were conducted by XRD, TEM, SEM, and AES analysis. It was found that Cu 2O islands formed on the surface of copper nano crystallites in the coated particles. Cu 2O was reduced to copper during sintering in an ammonia atmosphere and this led to porous composites with flocculation of SiC grains and segregation from coagulated copper blocks. By contrast, Cu 2O remained in the composites that were sintered in nitrogen atmosphere. This procedure was essential for the wetting of SiC by copper and for the densification process, and also facilitated the formation of nanostructured SiCp/copper composites.