Optimization of Warm Compaction Process Parameters in Synthesizing Carbon-Copper Composite Using Taguchi Method

Carbon–copper composites are attractive materials used for electrical applications, such as brushes for engines and generators, slip rings, switches, relays, lugs, contactor and current collector. Various methods can be used to prepare Carbon-copper composite, such as infiltration, sintering, cold pressing, hot pressing or isostatic pressing. However, powder metallurgy route is seen to be most favorable due to its possibility of producing uniform microstructure and excellent net shape product. In this work, carbon-copper composite is prepared using powder metallurgy route with warm compaction process. The compaction pressure (A), compaction temperature (B), post baking temperature (C) and compaction time (D) were optimized by Taguchi method. Hardness and transverse rupture strength (TRS) were used to assess the effect of warm compaction process. The experimental design is according to the L9 (34) orthogonal array. Signal to noise and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are employed to analyze the effect of warm compaction parameters. It is found that the best parameters and their levels are A3B2C3D2 for the main effect of hardness and the best parameters and their levels for TRS is A3B2C3D1. It is also notified that optimized parameters of A3, B2 and C3 are identical for hardness and TRS. However, for parameter D, the best level for hardness is D2 and for TRS is D1. The ANOVA analysis proved that compaction temperature parameter is significant to hardness and TRS value whereas the others parameters are not significant.