Synthesis and investigate the properties of Cu–Al–Ni alloys with Ag addition using powder metallurgy technique

In this study, the samples alloys of Cu-10 wt%Al-4 wt.% Ni with different percentages of Ag (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%) are sintered by powder metallurgy technique. This method is suitable for net-shape and net-shape manufacturing together and is more flexible technique as compared to forging, melting and casting. Homogenous mixing of powder is carried out by using Planetary Ball Mill (PM 200 RETSCH), powder blend is cold compacted under 400 MPa and sintering process is carried out at 850 °C. Heat treatment is carried out under vacuum furnace with heating rate of 5Co/min and is quenched in three different medium (i) water (ii) oil (iii) furnace cooling. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-10 wt%Al-4 wt.%Ni alloys with the addition of silver are investigated using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-rays diffraction (XRD), Rockwell Tester and Universal testing machine (UTM). The results indicate that XRD peaks of Cu, Al, Ni and Ag powders are documented through JCPDS cards. SEM images show structural behavior and differentiated as different quenched samples. Hardness of water-quenched samples is significant higher as compared to oil and furnace cooled samples. Ultimate compression strength of water-quenched samples is much higher than that of oil and furnace cooled samples.