Abstract: The paper presents the results of research on the production and application of sintered copper matrix composite reinforced with titaniumcopper intermetallic phases. Cu- Ti composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy. The starting materials for obtaining the sintered
composites were commercial powders of copper and titanium. Experiments were carried out on specimens containing 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 %
of titanium by weight. Finished powders mixtures containing appropriate quantities of titanium were subjected to single pressing with a
hydraulic press at a compaction pressure of 620 MPa. Obtained samples were subjected to sintering process at 880 °C in an atmosphere of
dissociated ammonia. The sintering time was 6 hours. The introduction of titanium into copper resulted in the formation of many particles
containing intermetallic phases. The obtained sinters were subjected to hardness, density and electrical conductivity measurements.
Observations of the microstructure on metallographic specimens made from the sintered compacts were also performed using a optical
microscope. An analysis of the chemical composition (EDS) of the obtained composites was also performed using a scanning electron
microscope. Microstructural investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed
that after 6 hours of sintering at 880°C intermetallic compounds: TiCu, TiCu2, TiCu4, Ti2Cu3, Ti3Cu4 were formed. The hardness increased
in comparison with a sample made of pure copper whereas density and electrical conductivity decreased. The aim of this work was to
fabricate copper matrix composites reinforced with titanium particles containing copper- titanium intermetallic phases using powder
metallurgy technology and determine the influence of the titanium particles on the properties of the sintered compacts and, finally, analyse
the potentials application for friction materials or electric motors brushes.
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