Production and properties investigation of Cu-Ni-Cr reinforced AA2024 matrix composites

The increasing need for high-strength materials has led to the production of composites with better properties by using metal reinforcement in the metal matrix to improve the mechanical properties of alloys, without reducing the ductility and toughness of the matrix. For this purpose; by adding 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 wt% Ni, Cu and Cr to the AA2024 alloy; single (AA2024/Cu, AA2024/Cr, AA2024/Ni), two (AA2024/Cu-Ni, AA2024/Cu-Cr, AA2024/Cr-Ni) and three (AA2024/Cu-Ni-Cr) reinforced composites were produced by powder metallurgy method. The internal structure, mechanical, physical, corrosion and wear properties of the composites were investigated. A good interface was formed in metal reinforced composites as a result of wetting, which resulted in an improvement in the hardness, tensile, wear and corrosion resistance of the composites. In Ni, Cu and Cr reinforced composites, (Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, Al3NiCu), Al2Cu, (Al7Cr, Al11Cr2) interphase compounds were formed, respectively. While the highest hardness and tensile strength were measured at 0.5% in Ni and Cr reinforced composites, it was observed at 5% in Cu reinforced composites. In double-reinforced composites, the highest tensile strength was obtained at 2% in Ni-Cu reinforced ones and 5% in Cu-Cr and Ni-Cr reinforced ones. Adhesive and abrasive wear mechanisms and corrosion formation were observed in all composite groups.