Tribological Performance of Micro and Nano-Titanium Carbide-Reinforced Copper Composites Manufactured by Powder Metallurgy: Experimental Studies and Modelling

Abstract

This study reports the fabrication of copper-based metal matrix composites reinforced with a combination of micro- and nano-sized titanium carbide (TiC) particles using the powder metallurgy route. The micro-TiC content was maintained at 5 wt.%, while the nano-TiC addition was systematically varied between 1 and 3 wt.% in increments of 1 wt.%. The consolidation of the blends was achieved by uniaxial compaction at 500 MPa, followed by sintering in a nitrogen atmosphere at 750–900 ◦C for 2 h. Tribological assessment under dry sliding conditions was performed using a pin-on-disk apparatus. Structural and microstructural examinations using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed a uniform incorporation of the reinforcements within the Cu matrix. The incorporation of nano-TiC up to 2 wt.% significantly enhanced density, hardness, and wear resistance, after which a marginal decline was observed. SEM analysis of worn surfaces revealed that adhesive wear, abrasion, and delamination were the primary wear mechanisms. To better understand the relationship between processing conditions and material responses, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed. The developed models for density, hardness, and wear loss showed good agreement with the experimental results, with confirmatory tests yielding errors of 1.59%, 2.06%, and 2%, respectively, thereby validating the approach’s reliability.