Investigation of mechanical properties of Cu/SiC composite fabricated by FSP: Effect of SiC particles’ size and volume fraction

In this experiment, copper-base composites reinforced with 30 nm and 5 μm SiC particles are fabricated on the surface of a purecopper sheetvia friction stir processing (FSP). Microstructure, mechanical properties and wear resistance of friction stir processed (FSPed) materials are investigated as a function of volume fraction of SiC particles. Results show that, applying FSP, without SiC particles, increases the percent elongation significantly (more than 2.5 times) and decreases copperʹs strength. Adding micro- and nano-sized SiC particles decreases the tensile strength and percent elongation. Increasing the volume fraction or decreasing the reinforcing particle size enhances the tensile strength and wear resistance and lowers the percent elongation.