Effect of Cr Content on the Compression Properties and Abrasive Wear Behavior of the High-Volume Fraction (TiC-TiB2)/Cu Composites

The (TiC-TiB2)/Cu composites with 50 vol% TiC-TiB2 ceramic particles were successfully fabricated by the combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation in a Cu-Ti-B4C-Cr system. The effects of the Cr content on the microstructures, hardness, compression properties, and abrasive wear behaviors of the composites were investigated. The final products consist of only Cu, TiC, and TiB2 phases, and the ceramic particles are distributed uniformly in these composites. The size of the ceramic particles decreases with Cr addition. As the Cr content increases, the yield strength, ultimate compression strength, microhardness, and abrasive wear resistance of the composites increase, and the fracture strain decreases.