Investigation of the combinability of Cu10Sn/B4C composites produced by powder metallurgy method with diffusion welding

In this study, diffusion welding processes were applied to bronze (Cu10Sn) matrix ceramic (B4C) reinforced composite materials produced by powder metallurgy method and the weldability of the joints was investigated, and the effects of welding process on microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. In the experimental studies, the experimental setup was created with the help of the Taguchi method and the optimization process was carried out for the average cutting forces. In the study, Cu10Sn and 4%, 8% and 12% B4C powders were used as starting materials. The prepared powder mixtures were mixed in a rotary mixer at 400 rpm for 2 hours, then compressed by uniaxial cold pressing method under 400 MPa pressure in a 10 mm diameter steel mold. The produced composite materials were then subjected to diffusion welding under Argon atmosphere in accordance with the experimental parameters determined by the Taguchi method and the welding process was performed. Optical microscope, SEM, XRD and EDS examinations were carried out to determine the microstructural characterization of the produced welded joints, and microhardness and shear (shear) tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties. As a result of the optimization process, 100% Cu10Sn - 0% B4C material, 820 °C temperature, 20 kg and 40 minutes time parameters were determined as optimum parameters and as a result of the control experiments, the predictive and validation values were compared with each other. As a result of control experiments; It was seen that there was an improvement of 11.24% for the cutting force compared to the initial parameter values, and the estimation error was at a negligible level with a value of 1.26%. When all the results are evaluated within each other; It has been determined in the study that the Taguchi method can be used efficiently in the determination and optimization of parameters in diffusion welding applications of B4C reinforced Cu10Sn matrix composite materials.