Characteristics bronze/Al2O3(Ni) reinforcement metal matrix composite produced by current activated sintering

Abstract

In this study, a bronze matrix (90 wt% Cu + 10 wt% Sn) was reinforced with Al2O3 particles using mechanical alloying and then produced by a subsequent rapid current sintering technique. The mechanically ball milled bronze powders were reinforced with electroless Ni coated 20 vol.% Al2O3 particles with three different particle sizes of 90, 70, and 50 m. Microhardness testing, and scanning electron microscopy were used for the structural characterization of the composites. The tribological behavior of the resultant composites was tested by the ball- -on-disk method at 1.0 N applied load with 0.3 m/s sliding speed for determination the wear loss and friction coeffcient features against a counterface steel ball.