| Abstract |
When it comes to sustainability, aluminium has numerous aspects. This presents an opportunity to advance the metalworking industry towards a circular economy. However, a significant obstacle is the presence of high levels of elemental contamination in vast quantities of post-consumer scrap. This must be considered in the design of alloys that are more sustainable. In this regard, the current study investigates the effect of copper addition on recycled aluminum chips. The microstructure, mechanical characteristics, tribological behavior, and electrical conductivity has been examined. The wear experiments were carried out at various loads, times, and spindle speeds. The results showed that increasing the copper content by up to 6 wt.% increased the number of grain boundaries and their constituents. Furthermore, large agglomerates have formed in some areas, most notably in the 10 wt.% Cu sample. In addition, the XRD analysis indicates a grain refining effect. As a result, 8 wt.% Cu sample exhibits optimal behavior, as its uniform dispersion aids in enhancing the mechanical and tribological characteristics of composites. A moderate sufficient wear resistance and electrical conductivity merged with good mechanical performance, open the opportunity to an effective approach of recycling aluminium scrap and incorporating it into a product with sufficient quality and cost-effective negotiations. |