Modelling and Optimization of Densification and Hardness of Cu/SiC Nanocomposites based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Nowadays, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is widely used for modelling and optimizing the performance of manufacturing technologies. Obtaining the optimum process parameters based on powder metallurgy methods is of great concern in manufacturing. In this paper, appropriate milling time for fabrication of Cu/SiC nanocomposites was determined to maximize the densification and hardness of the nanocomposite samples. The samples were prepared by high-energy planetary ball milling of the powders and conventional uniaxial pressing and sintering method. Microstructural characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, and the hardness of the samples was measured through Vickers microhardness tester. The highest hardness of 170 HV and minimum densification of 0.74 were obtained for the sample milled for 25 h. In addition, the effects of milling time on the hardness and density of the sintered samples were evaluated using one-factor RSM. Polynomial mathematical models were successfully developed to determine the relative density and microhardness of the sintered samples. The analysis of variance confirmed that the suggested models could be satisfactorily employed to predict the relative density and microhardness.