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Microstructure and Wear Performance of Fly Ash-Reinforced Copper Matrix Composites Prepared via Powder Metallurgy

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Abstract

This research work investigated the role of fly ash particles (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) on the microstructural evolution and the wear resistance under dry sliding conditions of copper matrix composites (CMCs), prepared through powder metallurgy (PM) route. Copper and fly ash particles were initially mixed in a twin-shell blender, compacted in a die and sintered in a protected muffle furnace. Proper dispersion of fly ash particles was obtained. XRD plots did not show the formation of any other compounds or oxides. The increase in fly ash content increased porosity content. EBSD images of the composites revealed grain refinement due to the incorporation of fly ash particles. Fly ash reinforcement particles enhanced the resistance to wear and lowered the values of the coefficient of friction (COF). The wear mechanism shifted to abrasive wear from microcutting at particle content exceeding 10 wt.%. The electrical conductivity of the prepared CMCs was negatively affected by fly ash particles.

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Data availability statement

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time due to legal or ethical reasons. The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time due to technical or time limitations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Tuticorin Thermal Power Station at Tuticorin, V V College of Engineering at Tisaiyanvilai, Speed Spark EDM at Coimbatore, VV Titanium Pigments at Thoothukudi, Tii Techno Testing Services Pvt. Ltd at Chennai, The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) at Coimbatore, OIM and Texture Lab at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Centre for Research in Metallurgy at Karunya University and Centre for NEMS and Nanophotonics at Indian Institute of Technology Madras for providing the facilities and materials to carry out this investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, Johannesburg, 2006, Gauteng, South Africa

    Isaac Dinaharan

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, V V College of Engineering, Tisaiyanvilai, Tamil Nadu, 627657, India

    Thangadurai Albert

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641114, India

    Jebaraj David Raja Selvam

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  1. Isaac Dinaharan
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Dinaharan, I., Albert, T. & David Raja Selvam, J. Microstructure and Wear Performance of Fly Ash-Reinforced Copper Matrix Composites Prepared via Powder Metallurgy. J. of Materi Eng and Perform (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-023-08951-w

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