Tailoring the strength-conductivity combination in Cu matrix composites via in-situ TiB2 synthesis

Optimal interfacial bonding coupled with outstanding strengthening efficiency of reinforcement remains the cornerstone for developing high-performance Cu matrix composites. This study focuses on modulating both interface characteristics and microstructural architecture through in-situ processing, ai...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yifan Yan, Yilin Qiu, Xi Zhang, Bao Wang, Rui Li, Haoran Wu, Zheng Wei, Weiyang Long, Guoshang Zhang, Zhiyuan Zhu, Pengfei Yue, Kexing Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018502
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Summary:Optimal interfacial bonding coupled with outstanding strengthening efficiency of reinforcement remains the cornerstone for developing high-performance Cu matrix composites. This study focuses on modulating both interface characteristics and microstructural architecture through in-situ processing, aiming to achieve a strength-conductivity balance in Cu matrix composites. Fabricated via direct current resistance sintering, the in situ TiB2/Cu composites exhibit increasing yield strength from 174 MPa to 388 MPa with increasing TiB2 content, achieving a 155.9 %–470.6 % enhancement over pure Cu while maintaining room-temperature thermal conductivity exceeding 200 W/m·K. Notably, these in-situ composites achieve superior strength-conductivity synergy compared to both conventional Cu matrix composites and Cu alloys reported in existing literature. This is attributed to the in-situ process regulation achieving: semi-coherent interfacial bonding, grain refinement (98 % refinement), dislocation strengthening (32.6-fold multiplication in dislocation density), and effective load transfer. Complementary mesomechanical simulations demonstrate that composite damage primarily originates from stress-strain concentration within the interparticle matrix regions, with matrix ductile fracture dominating the failure mode, and no significant interfacial debonding observed. These findings establish a theoretical framework for designing Cu matrix composites with exceptional strength-conductivity properties.
ISSN:2238-7854