Abstract:
The 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composites reinforced with different sized TiB
2 particles were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The variations of density, electrical conductivity, hardness and arc resistance of 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composites with the TiB
2 particle size were studied, and arc erosion behavior of the TiB
2/Cu composites reinforced with different sized TiB
2 particles were emphatically analyzed. The results show that the hardness and density of 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composite decrease gently with increasing of TiB
2 particles size. The comprehensive performance of 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composite with fine TiB
2 particle size is better. With the increase of TiB
2 particles size, the stability of the arc erosion resistance of 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composites decreases, and the mass loss of 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composites cathode material increases. The arc erosion resistance of 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composite reinforced with 10 μm TiB
2 particles is optimal. Observations on arc erosion morphology show that 3wt%TiB
2/Cu composites are mostly transferred from cathodes to anodes, and the mass loss of cathode and arc erosion area on the contact surface increase gradually with increasing of the TiB
2 particle size, which shows that the fine TiB
2 particles in Cu matrix can reduce the splashing of molten copper during arc erosion.