Pengaruh Variasi Komposisi x(Al-W) terhadap Karakteristik Paduan (CuNi)-2.5wt.%Fe menggunakan Proses Pre-Milling

Abstract

Powder metallurgy is a manufacturing method that enables the production of materials with superior mechanical properties and a homogeneous microstructure through the processes of mixing, compaction, and sintering of metal powders. This study investigates the effect of Aluminum–Tungsten (Al–W) composition on the mechanical and physical properties of CuNi–2.5wt.%Fe alloy processed using the powder metallurgy method with a pre-milling stage employing a high-energy ball mill. The variations of Al–W composition used were 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt.% with a 5:95 ratio. The sample preparation process included mixing using a V-mixer, warm compaction at a pressure of 250 MPa and a temperature of 150°C for 15 minutes, followed by sintering at 770°C with a holding time of 1 hour. The tests conducted comprised density measurement, hardness testing, compressive strength testing, electrical conductivity testing, and microstructural observation. The results showed that the addition of Al–W consistently increased the density, hardness, and compressive strength of the alloy, with density values rising from 6.88 g/cm³ at 1 wt.% to 7.35 g/cm³ at 7 wt.%. This improvement is attributed to the reduction of porosity and the formation of stronger interparticle bonds during the sintering process. Moreover, the microstructural analysis revealed a more homogeneous particle distribution with increasing Al–W composition. The alloy containing 7 wt.% Al–W exhibited the best mechanical performance, indicating its potential application as an electrode material for Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) processes.