THE EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF ZEOLITE ON THE PROPERTIES OF A SINTERED COPPER-MATRIX COMPOSITE

This paper presents results concerning copper-zeolite composites fabricated by powder metallurgy. It focuses on the effect of zeolite particles on the properties of the sintered material as well as the quality of the bonding between the zeolite reinforcement and the copper matrix. Before the sintering process, the zeolite morphology and composition were characterised. The zeolite powder (0.0-0.2 mm fraction) used in the experiments was ground tuff rock extracted from the Kucin Quarry (VSK PRO-ZEO s.r.o.) in Slovakia. The as-delivered material was imaged and analysed using the SEM/EDS and XRD techniques. Before sintering, the powder mixtures were compacted on one side with a hydraulic press at a pressure of 400 MPa. The sintering process was carried out in a laboratory tube furnace at 950 degrees C under an atmosphere of dissociated ammonia. The sintering time was fixed at 60 minutes. The resulting agglomerates were measured for density, hardness, porosity. SEM/EDS analysis was employed to observe the microstructure and composition of the metallographic sections. The addition of zeolite powder to the copper matrix (5, 10 or 20% by weight) increased the porosity and hardness of the sintered material but decreased its density.