Investigation of microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu–SiCP composite produced by continual annealing and roll-bonding process

In the present study, the silicon carbide particles (SiCp) dispersion-strengthened copper matrix composites (Cu/SiCp) were successfully fabricated in the form of sheets by continual annealing and roll-bonding (CAR) process. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the Cu/ 2 vol% SiC composite during various CAR cycles were evaluated by optical and scanning electron microscopes and tensile test. The composite showed an excellent distribution of silicon carbide particles in the matrix after nine cycles. It was found that by increasing the number of cycles, the strength of composite strips was improved and reached 315 MPa after nine cycles, which is 1.6 times larger than that of the raw materials (annealed copper). Elongation declined up to four cycles, which was about 26%, and by proceeding the CAR cycles, it was enhanced slightly, reaching 34% after nine cycles. In order to clarify the failure mode, fracture surfaces after tensile tests were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Observations revealed that the failure mode in CARed Cu/ 2 vol% SiC composite was a shearing ductile rupture with elongated shallow shear dimples.