Investigation of effect of manufacturing parametres on properties of copper matrix boron carbide reinforced cold pressed and sintered materials before and after rolling process

This study utilizes the use of copper powder with a particle size of 40μm and a purity of 99,9%, as well as B4C reinforcement powder with particle sizes of 25μm, 43μm, and 90μm and a purity of 97,5%. The Cu/B4C composites were produced by cold pressing at a pressure of 40 MPa and sintering in an argon gas (Ar) atmosphere at a stirring temperature of 850°C for 90 minutes. The samples were produced using the powder metallurgy (P/M) method. The B4C powder at various rates (5, 10, 15 wt. %) was combined with Cu powder. The specimens were exposed to hot rolling at different temperatures (600°C, 700°C, 800°C) and rolling ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%). The hardness, density, porosity, and transverse rupture strength of all samples were assessed before and after the hot-rolling process. The results were then compared. Optical microscopes (OM), scanning electron microscopes (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), XRD, and EDS mapping analysis were used to take images in order to determine how the manufacturing factors affected the results. The optimal hot rolling conditions for achieving optimal mechanical behavior in the compound involved using a B4C grain size of 25μm and a 5% B4C in the composite. These conditions were applied at different temperatures (600°C, 700°C, 800°C) and rolling ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%) for both the rolled and original samples. This study is among a limited number of investigations conducted on this particular subject.