Microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of diamond-reinforced CuSnTi matrix composites by hot press sintering

Abstract

Diamond-reinforced CuSnTi matrix composites were fabricated by hot press sintering (HPS) to investigate the effect of diamond content (0, 10, and 20 wt%) on the microstructure, mechanical, and tribological properties. The results reveal that the 10 wt% diamond composite retains diamond particles more effectively within the matrix, whereas the 20 wt% diamond composite shows reduced retention due to cracking in Ti-rich areas, leading to diminished mechanical and tribological properties. Notably, the 10 wt% diamond composite exhibits the most significant improvements, with microhardness and compressive yield strength enhanced by 25.0 % and 59.7 % compared to the CuSnTi alloy. The 10 wt% diamond composite exhibits the lowest average coefficient of friction (ACOF) and wear rate. Furthermore, the wear mechanism evolves with increasing diamond content, transitioning from fatigue wear to abrasive wear, and eventually to a combination of abrasive and fatigue wear. This work facilitates the development of copper-based diamond tools with higher hardness and better wear resistance.