Microstructure, hardness, tensile, and wear properties of Cu/Al-Al ₂ O ₃ laminar composites prepared by gas pressure infiltration casting and roll bonding processes

Owing to specific properties and applications of metal-ceramic composites, they are nowadays being produced by various processes. Here, gas pressure infiltration casting and cold roll bonding were used to produce Cu/Al-Al 2 O 3 /Cu with different volume fractions of Al 2 O 3 whiskers. The findings showed flawless interfaces of Cu/Al-Al 2 O 3 , indicating good interfacial bonding. Also, based on optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, the median size of grains in cast Al-Al 2 O 3 decreased as the volume fraction of cast composite increased. Similarly, the median size of Cu grains decreased from 10.2 µm in Cu/Al-Al 2 O 3 (5% vol)/Cu to 8.7 µm in Cu/Al-Al 2 O 3 (25% vol)/Cu. On the contrary, the strength and hardness results showed a growth as whiskers increased. The hardness increased from 122 HV and 58 HV on Cu and Al-Al 2 O 3 (5% vol) layers of Cu/Al-Al 2 O 3 (5% vol)/Cu to 134 HV and 72 HV on Cu and Al-Al 2 O 3 (25% vol) of Cu/Al- Al 2 O 3 (25% vol). Also, the mass loss and wear rate of Cu/ Al-Al 2 O 3 /Cu composites decreased as more whiskers were used. The worn surfaces on composites showed different amounts of grooves and debris which were decreased as whiskers increased.