Effect of copper content on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu/(10NiO-NiFe2O4) cermets

Cu/ (10NiO-NiFe2O4) cermets were fabricated by using cold pressing sintering method. The phase composition and rnicrostructure and effect of metallic content on the relative density and mechanical properties such as bending strength and fracture toughness were studied. The results showed that the cermets were consisted of Cu, NiO and NiFe2O4. Within the range of metallic content from 0 to 20wt. %, there was a durative increase for the fracture toughness and a break for the relative density and bending strength with the increase of metallic content. A maximal relative density with 95.85% and bending strength with 200.34MPa and fracture toughness with 3.55 MPa-m (1/2) could be achieved at the metallic content of 5m. %, 15wt. % and 20wt. %, respectively. The ratio of Fe/Ni was about 2.58-2.84 in NiFe2O4 and 0.24 similar to 0.29 in NiO.