Development of Cu-E-Glass Fiber Composites by Powder Metallurgy Route

Abstract

Cu-E glass fiber composites were developed with different vol. % of E-glass fiber (10, 20, 30 and 40 vol. %) by powder metallurgy route. Both as-received Cu and nanostructured Cu developed by milling as-received Cu powder for 20 h were used to develop various Cu-E-glass fiber composites. The effect of using as-received Cu powder and nanostructured Cu powder on the properties of the various Cu-E-glass fiber composites was analysed. The samples were sintered at 900oC for 1 h in inert atmosphere. The results show good bonding between the matrix and the reinforcement and there is homogeneous distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix.. The hardness of the Cu-E-glass fiber composites was found to increase from 0.8GPa to 2.7GPa with increase in vol. % of the glass fiber in case of unmilled and from 1.2GPa to 2.9GPa for the milled Cu-E-glass fiber composites. The as-milled Cu-E- glass fiber composites shows better densification and sinterability compared to the unmilled CuE-glass fiber composites.