ISSN (e): 2250 – 3005 || Volume, 08 || Issue, 7|| July – 2018 || International Journal of Computational Engineering Research (IJCER) www.ijceronline.com Open Access Journal Page 65 Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Nano Zro 2 Reinforced Copper-Zinc Alloy Composite Raj Kumar 1* , Jayasheel I Harti 2 , Sahadeva G N 3 , Madeva Nagaral 4 1* PG Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Bangalore-560049, Karnataka, India 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Bangalore-560049, Karnataka, India 3 Professor and HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering, East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Bangalore-560049, Karnataka, India 4 Design Engineer, Aircraft Research and Design Centre, HAL, Bangalore-560037, Karnataka, India Correspondence Author: Raj Kumar --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 29-06-2018 Date of acceptance: 14-07-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION Copper based metal matrix composites (CMCs) have broad applications in the field of automobile aerospace and machine tool industries due to its low density and high wear resistance. Copper matrix has high strength, corrosion resistance and high thermal conductivity which make CMCs more suitable for different applications. The copper and its alloy are widely used as a material for bearings. The copper matrix composites are fabricated by adding nano sized ceramic particles such as ZrO 2 in the copper matrix which results in enhanced mechanical properties. The ZrO 2 is considered as the superior reinforcement due to its high strength, high wear, and impact resistant, high melting point, low coefficient of thermal expansion and good chemical stability [1]. Shaaz Abulais et al. [2] through the testing of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide in copper concludes that ultimate tensile strength and the yield strength of copper increases with the addition of sic and Al 2 O 3 . Their studies also concluded that properties such as Young's modulus and shear modulus improved proportionally with the additional reinforcement. According to their find, the density of the material and its Poisson’s ratio reduces with increase in reinforcement percentage i.e. these are inversely proportional with reinforcement percentage. There is a tremendous improvement in the hardness of the material with the introduction of reinforcements. In his study of microstructure, he concluded that Al 2 O 3 , SiC and carbon phase are clearly visible but the mixture is not homogeneous in nature so this composite is of discontinuous type. T.Ram et al. [3] studied the wear behavior of Gr+Cu/SiC hybrid composite in two single layers and three multilayer configurations. The presence of a layer structure in the composite found that the breaking and wear resistance of the composite are increased. Breaking behavior and wear rate was found to be better by using small size particles. For providing better breaking layered structure is more effective, especially at sliding speed of 30 to 35 m/s. Single layer composites founds best in terms of crack growth resistance when compared with multilayer composites. Bekir et al. [4] came to a conclusion that there is a decrease in the surface roughness of CuSn10, CuZn30, and pure Sn but there is an increase in values in pure copper and pure zinc bearings. The highest coefficient of ABSTRACT The paper is the result of investigations made on microstructure and mechanical behavior of 3 and 6 weight percentage of nano sized ZrO 2 reinforced to copper alloy (90% Cu and 10% Zn) composites. Copper matrix composite having nano zirconium oxide was fabricated by liquid stir casting method. The microstructure of the composites was examined by scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive spectrum. Further, mechanical behavior of composites was studied. Tensile properties like hardness, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and compression strength were evaluated as per ASTM standards. Microstructural observation revealed uniform distribution of ZrO 2 reinforcement particles in the matrix and particulates were confirmed by scanning electron microscope. The analysis disclosed hardness, ultimate tensile strength, and yield strength of composites increased due to addition of reinforcements. KEYWORDS: Bronze composite material, Nano zirconium oxide, Ultimate Tensile Strength, Yield