J Mirazimi - Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
P Abachi - Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
K Pourazarang - Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
S Tahanzadeh - Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

One of the methods to improve the mechanical properties and tribological behaviour of pure copper isadding reinforcement particles. In applications such as sliding electrical contacts, where high wear resistance and goodthermal/electrical conductivity are needed, copper matrix nanocomposites reinforced by ceramic particles can besuitable candidates. Accordingly, in this study, pure copper and Cu-ZrO2 nanocomposites were produced by sparkplasma sintering (SPS) of mixed powders. The effect of nanoparticles amount on microstructure, relative density,electrical conductivity, hardness and wear resistance of specimens were evaluated conferring to related standards. Pinon disk test was performed to determine dry sliding wear resistances of specimens under constant velocity of 0.4 m/s.Weight loss of specimens was measured after each selected sliding distance. Field emission scanning electronmicroscopy (FESEM) observations showed low particles clustering in Cu matrix, especially in those samplescontaining low ZrO2 content. Consideringtothe results, relative density and electrical conductivity were both decreasedwhile the hardness considerably increased in nanocomposites having higher ZrO2 volume fractions. The resultsindicated that wear rate increased with increasing the applied load and sliding distance. In general, compared to thepure copper, nanocomposites exhibited a lower wear loss.

Cu- ZrO2nanocomposites; Spark plasma sintering; Electrical conductivity, Wear resistance