Combustion-aminolysis synthesis and characterization of CrN/Cu composites

Abstract

CrN/Cu composite powders were synthesized by employing a novel two-step technique. Firstly, the Cr₂O₃+CuO precursors were prepared by the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method using cupric nitrate, urea, and chromium nitrate as initial materials. Subsequently, the SCS precursors were calcined at 850 °C in NH₃ for 6 h, and transformed to CrN/Cu composite powders. The composite powders consist of the uniform subsphaeroidal particles with the particle size ranging from 200 to 300 nm. After the friction-wear test, the removal volume of the sintered CrN/Cu composite specimen (0.0218 mm³) is almost 80 times smaller than that of the sintered pure copper specimen (1.6634 mm³). The addition of CrN can improve the tribological performance of sintered copper significantly. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of the sintered CrN/Cu composite specimen is high to 85.6% of IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard).