Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study investigates the combined effect of reinforcement type and content on the structural, electrical, and corrosion behavior of Cu10Sn bronze matrix composites reinforced with boron carbide (B4C) and silicon carbide (SiC) at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt.% via powder metallurgy. Phase and structural analyses conducted by x-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that the Cu10Sn matrix structure was preserved after composite fabrication. Microstructural observations revealed that B4C-reinforced composites exhibited a more homogeneous particle distribution, whereas increasing SiC content led to particle agglomeration and localized structural heterogeneities within the matrix. Density and porosity analyses further demonstrated that higher reinforcement contents reduced densification and increased porosity, indicating the formation of microstructural discontinuities. Electrical conductivity results showed that a reinforcement level of 2 wt.% provided the most favorable balance between conductivity and reinforcement-induced strengthening. In contrast, higher reinforcement contents (4-8 wt.%) led to a pronounced decrease in conductivity, due to the disruption of continuous electron-transport pathways associated with particle clustering and increased porosity. Corrosion behavior, evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), indicated that the unreinforced Cu10Sn alloy exhibited the highest polarization resistance (8.096 × 10−4 Ω m2), owing to its dense and homogeneous structure. Increasing ceramic content—particularly SiC—resulted in increased corrosion rates, which were strongly correlated with porosity development and surface irregularities. Overall, the results highlight a clear trade-off between electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and reinforcement content, indicating that the 2 wt.% reinforcement level emerges as the optimal condition, offering a balanced combination of structural integrity, electrical performance, and corrosion resistance.