Micro-/nano-scale WC particle-reinforced Cu-based composite preparation and property study

In this paper, Cu-based composites were prepared by the powder metallurgy method with the spark plasma sintering (SPS) sintering technique using WC (tungsten carbide) particles as the reinforcing phase and Cu as the matrix. The effect of sintering temperature on the electrical and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated, and the effect of the variation in the reinforcing phase content on the electrical and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated at the optimum sintering temperature. The microstructure and properties of 5 wt. % WC/Cu composites at different sintering temperatures were investigated, and 850 °C was determined as the optimum sintering temperature. When the SPS temperature was 850 °C, the yield strength, compressive strength, compressive strain, and hardness of 10 wt. % WC/Cu composites were 321 MPa, 743 MPa, 40.42%, and 143.2 HV, respectively, which increased the yield strength and compressive strength by 697.82% and 246.84%, respectively, compared with pure Cu material.