Enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of Cu matrix composites with ultrafine Cr2O3 particles by spray drying

This study investigated the effects of different Cr₂O₃ contents on the mechanical and electrical properties of Cu-based composites using spray drying technology. The influence of varying Cr₂O₃ concentrations on the powder morphology was systematically investigated. Cold pressing and sintering were utilized to fabricate composite blocks to examine the microstructures, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity with different Cr₂O₃ content. Our findings reveal that the inclusion of Cr₂O₃ led to a reduction in conductivity, while significantly improving the hardness. Notably, an optimal Cr₂O₃ concentration of 0.8 wt% gained a remarkable increase in yield strength to 215 MPa and ultimate tensile strength to 255.96 MPa, marking improvements of 104.76 % and 114.91 %, respectively, over composites prepared with pure Cu powders. The balance achieved between mechanical robustness and conductivity suggests a promising potential for these composites in electrical applications.