Investigation of structural, mechanical and tribological properties of aged and coated Cu-Cr-Zr alloy

Numerous issues arise as a result of the poor wear resistance of the metals employed in applications where there is friction. Utilizing surface engineering techniques, wear resistance can be increased without affecting the material's other qualities. Cu-Cr-Zr alloys may be used for a variety of areas, including transmission wire for electric railways or bus lines, heat exchangers, and nuclear reactor components. Usually, aging heat treatment is applied to Cu-Cr-Zr alloys to enhance their mechanical characteristics. In this thesis, Cu-Cr-Zr alloy samples were first subjected to aging heat treatment at two different temperatures (400 and 500 °C) and in two different times (2 and 4 hours). Four different coating processes (Ag, Cu, Ag+Cu and Cu+Ag) were applied to the aged samples using the PVD method. Tensile test, microhardness measurement, abrasion test, electrical conductivity measurement and structural analysis (XRD and SEM) were applied to the specimens. After the aging processes, the highest hardness and strength values of the Cu-Cr-Zr alloy were obtained in the samples that were aged at 500 °C for 4 hours. When the wear resistance and electrical conductivity of the coated samples were examined, it was determined that the samples with duplex surface treatment performed better.