Electrochemical Preparation and Properties of Al₂O₃ Nanoparticles Reinforced Cu-based Composites

抄録

Metal Cu has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, but poor mechanical properties. Incorporating ceramic particles into the Cu matrix to prepare Cu-based composites is one of the most effective methods to improve the mechanical properties. This paper reports a simple and efficient one-step method for the electrochemical preparation of nano-Al₂O₃ reinforced Cu-based composite; the electrodeposition process and properties of the prepared materials were also studied. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy measurements showed that the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the Cu matrix of the electrodeposited Cu–Al₂O₃ composites. Incorporating Al₂O₃ nanoparticles affected the grain size and microstructure of the composites, improving the mechanical properties of the Cu matrix. Increasing the Al₂O₃ concentration in the electrolyte resulted in the grain size of the composites decreasing to a range of 40.8–98.5 nm. Meanwhile, the preferred orientation of the present composites changed from (111) to (220) crystal plane. The Cu–Al₂O₃ composite had a tensile strength of 509 MPa, a hardness of 220 Hv, and an elongation to failure of 23.88 %, indicating that the material had a high tensile strength while maintaining excellent ductility. Compared with the original monolithic Cu, the performance of the Cu–Al₂O₃ composite was nearly doubled.