Novel advanced copper-silver materials produced from recycled dendritic copper powders using electroless coating and hot pressing

ABSTRACT

In this study, copper powders with dendritic morphology were produced by the electrolysis method, and then silver coating was applied to these powders by an electroless coating method. The bulk samples were fabricated by hot pressing method using different ratios of copper and silver-plated copper powders. The results showed that the electroless silver coating layer provided a strong bond at the particle boundaries of the samples, significantly improving the physical and mechanical properties of the materials. Accordingly, the hardness, tensile strength, electrical and thermal conductivity values of the samples produced from silver-plated dendritic copper particles were determined to be approximately 98 HB, 185 MPa, 102 IACS% and 402 W mK⁻¹, respectively. In addition, the oxidation resistance of the sample produced from completely silver-coated copper powders is 4 times higher than that of pure copper.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrolysis
• electroless coating
• silver
• copper
• powder metallurgy
• hot-pressing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and material

All data obtained in the conduct of this study are presented in the results section of the article. No other data are available.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)] under Grant [number 119M398] and [Coordination Office of Scientific Research Projects (BAP) of Karadeniz Technical University] under Grant [number FBA-2021-9203]. The authors would like to thank TÜBİTAK and BAP for their support.

Notes on contributors

Temel Varol

Temel Varol is an Associate Professor in the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of Karadeniz Technical University. Onur Güler works as a Research Assistant in the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of Karadeniz Technical University. Serhatcan Berk Akçay is a master student at Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of Karadeniz Technical University. Hüseyin Can Aksa is a master student at Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of Karadeniz Technical University.