Effect of aluminium addition on densification behaviour and microstructural features of P/M processed Cu–TiC composites

The present work is focused on the processing and characterization of Cu–TiC composites. The samples were prepared employing addition of TiC particles to the powder matrix followed by mechanical milling, cold compaction and vacuum sintering. The effects of aluminium addition and the contents of Al & TiC on microstructural features, particle fragmentation, crystallite size, lattice strain, densification behaviour and hardness of the (sintered) samples have been analyzed. The composites consisted of uniformly distributed (fine) TiC particles in the size range of 0.2–1.4 µm and the TiC particles possessed sound interfacial bonding with the copper matrix. Increasing aluminium and TiC contents led to a better chemical homogeneity in the composites. Separate addition of Al and TiC to copper brought about increased hardness. Further, the hardness of the samples increased with the addition of rising aluminium content while a mixed effect of TiC content was noticed. Further, aluminium addition was more effective at a higher TiC content in terms of increased hardness of the samples. Moreover, densification behaviour was affected in a mixed manner in the presence of TiC and Al. Factors responsible for the observed behaviour of the samples have been discussed.