Synergistic strengthening effect of tungsten carbide (WC) particles and silicon carbide whiskers (SiCw) on mechanical properties of Cu-Al2O3 composite

Cu-Al2O3 composites are widely used in electrical contact fields because of their excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and arc erosion resistance. (WC + SiCw)/Cu-Al2O3 composites with better properties were prepared by powder metallurgy combined with an internal oxidation process that introduced micron-sized WC particles and SiCw into the Cu-Al2O3 composite. The synergistic strengthening mechanism effect of nanoAl(2)O(3) particles, micron-sized WC particles and SiCw in copper matrix composites was analyzed. The results show that there is a semi-coherent interface between the nano-Al2O3 particles and the copper matrix. The ultimate tensile strength of the (1WC + 2SiC(w))/Cu-Al2O3 composite is 531.6 MPa, which is 12.7% and 4.5% higher than that of the Cu-Al2O3 composite and the SiCw/Cu-Al2O3 composite, respectively. According to theoretical calculations and an analysis of the strengthening mechanism, the contributions of the Oro-wan strengthening and load transfer strengthening mechanism in the (1WC + 2SiC(w))/Cu Al2O3 composite are 27.3% and 16.6% respectively. The synergistic strengthening effect of particles and whiskers contributed 6.0% to the tensile strength of the (1WC + 2SiC(w))/Cu Al2O3 composite. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.