Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of SiCp/Cu Composites

Cu coated SiC composite powders were made by the heterogeneous precipitation coating method and the hot pressing process was used to prepare SiCp/Cu composites with 20%-65%SiC particles.The composition and microstructure of samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction,SEM with EDS.Continuous matrix copper is obtained in the composites with the SiC particles distributed uniformly.The porosity of the composites increase,but the flexural strength decrease with increasing fraction of SiCp.The composites with 35%SiCp show the highest hardness.All samples exhibit brittle fracture behavior.