Study on reaction-processed Al–Cu/α-Al2O3 (p) composites

Reaction-processed Al-Cu/α-Al2O3 (p) composites, in which α-Al2O3 particles are distributed homogeneously, were fabricated via the chemical reactions between copper oxide (CuO) and aluminium. From the examination of the wear properties of the composites, it is proposed that the wear resistance of the composites is better than that of the corresponding matrix alloy, since α-Al2O3 particles play the main role in taking the external load and there is good interfacial cohesion between α-Al2O3 particles and the alloy matrix.