Mechanical characterization of deformed and heat treated copper-eutectoid steel powder reinforced composites

Copper is well known for its formability, conductivity and corrosion resistance properties. The property of pure copper cannot be altered. There is provision in metal family to alter its property by alloying or subjecting to intentional cold deformation. The reinforcement addition introduces miss fit strain in the copper matrix due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion of matrix and reinforcement, the property of copper as a whole is altered. The reinforcement phase alteration by heat treatment changes the room temperature structure of reinforcement, the expansion or contraction of the reinforcement takes place in the matrix, according to the packing efficiency of the room temperature structures formed by heat treatment. Since reinforcement addition may not affect unit cell property of copper, an attempt is made here to reinforce heat treatable ferrous material into the copper matrix. To study the work hardening effect on copper and its composites, cold rolling is also performed to see the extent of property enhancement (hardness). To analyze the dispersion of reinforcements in the matrix, the behavior of reinforcements during tensile fracture and the effect of deformation & rate of cooling on the grain, metallography is also employed. It is expected to improve the hardness and tensile strength of copper considerably with the small addition of reinforcements. Work hardening effect of copper may be enhanced by introducing reinforcements with and without heat treatment, so that the specific weight of copper is substantially improved.