Surface modification and characterization of zirconium carbide particulate reinforced C70600 CuNi composite fabricated via friction stir processing

In the present research work, Friction stir processing (FSP) technique has been applied to develop a C70600 graded copper-nickel (CuNi) Surface metal matrix composite (SMMC) reinforced with and without addition of ZrCp. Rotational and traverse speeds were set as 1200 rpm and 30 mm/min, respectively. The fabricated SMMC were metallurgically characterized by using Optical microscope (OM) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The homogeneous distribution of ZrC particles and good interfacial bonding between matrix/reinforcement were observed via OM and FESEM microscopes. The microhardness of the CuNi/ZrC surface composite was observed by using microhardness tester at the cross section of the sample. The average higher microhardness of 148 Hv at CuNi/ZrC SMMC and lower microhardness of 115 Hv at FSPed CuNi was found. The Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) value was measured by using micro tensile testing machine. The UTS value of CuNi/ZrC composite and FSPed CuNi were observed to be 310 MPa and 302 MPa, respectively. The mode of fracture was also observed via FESEM. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) test was carried out to confirm the presence of CuNi & ZrC in the SMMC layer.