Analysis of Properties of Copper-Alumina Composites Produced by Various Processing Routes: A Review

Abstract

The metal matrix composites (MMCs) are of keen interest in the recent years because of their pervasive application in automotive and aerospace industries .This paper summarizes the Cu/Al₂O₃ composites prepared by various fabrication routes and their results. The copper-alumina MMCs are gaining importance increasingly and act as good alternatives to be used for functional applications mainly microwave tubes, electrical equipment, high temperature conductors, automobile and aerospace industries. Cu/Al₂O₃ composites have come to a huge demand in the recent decades and hence have driven the need for alternative cheaper and effective production routes concentrating more on demerits which usually occur in a composite like the matrix-reinforcement bonding, porosity, distribution of the secondary phase and also not compromising on the strength factors. The purpose of this paper is to detail the various fabrication techniques for the manufacture of this MMC and their results. In this paper, the alumina reinforcement as a particulate and as a fiber has been discussed and results of such forms of reinforcement are explained.