Sintered copper matrix composites containing aluminium-ferric intermetallic phases

Marek Konieczny, Renata Mola Politechnika Świętokrzyska, Katedra Metaloznawstwa i Technologii Materiałowych, al. 1000-lecia PP 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland

Quarterly No. 2, 2007 pages 109-113

DOI:

keywords: sintered composite, intermetallic phases

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abstract This article is devoted to formation and examination of the structure and properties of sintered copper matrix compo¬sites containing aluminium-ferric intermetallic phases. Two kinds of composites were made: containing AlFe phase, earlier extracted from pure iron and aluminium powders, that were added to mixture as a powder and containing phases AlFe3 +  (solid solution aluminium and copper in iron) formed during process of sintering of the composite from aluminium and iron powders, that were solid diffusion jointed. Sintering of formed stamping was conducted at a temperature of 900C for 20 minutes in vacuum furnace. Microstructure, chemical composition of phases, microhardness and electrical conductivity of composites were investigated. Composites containing AlFe phase have high electrical conductivity (49 MS/m) and also high microhardness of intermetallic phases (724 HV0.065). But their disadvantage is a lack of diffusion joint between intermetallic phases particles and copper matrix. Composites containing intermetallic phases formed during sintering have about 35% lower electrical conductivity than copper (38 MS/m), what is an effect of deeper diffusion of aluminium to copper matrix. Intermetallic phases formed during sintering (AlFe3 and ) have also lower average microhardness in comparison with AlFe (642 HV0.065). But on the other hand their advantage is a diffusion joint between particles and matrix.