Effects of ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ addition on the physical properties of Cu-Mo-Cr alloy by liquid phase sintering

In this study, the effect of the addition of Zro₂ and Al₂o₃ ceramic powders to Cu-mo-Cr alloy was studied by examining the physical properties of the composite material. The ceramic additives were selected based on the thermodynamic stability calculation of the Cu-mo-Cr alloys. elemental powders, in the ratio Cu:mo:Cr = 60:30:10 (wt.%), and approximately 0-1.2 wt.% of Zro₂ and Al₂o₃ were mixed, and a green compact was formed by pressing the mixture under 186 mPa pressure and sintering at 1250°C for 5 h. The raw powders were evenly dispersed in the mixed powder, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. After sintering, the microstructures, densities, electrical conductivities, and hardness of the composites were evaluated. We found that the addition of Zro₂ and Al₂o₃ increased the hardness and decreased the electrical conductivity and density of the composites.