Optimization of Process Variables in Copper Infiltration of Low and High Density Ferrous Structural Parts

Copper infiltration is demonstrated as a viable solution to achieve higher mechanical properties by filling the interconnected porosities of a ferrous structure with copper infiltrant. This paper will present the results of a design of experiments study based on the selected processing variables in the copper infiltration process. The variables are the following: Infiltrating temperatures, infiltrating time at pre-heat zone and hot zone, the green density of iron part, the migration of copper into the iron part at different processing conditions. The results show the flexibility of the infiltration process to attain certain mechanical properties by changing the processing conditions.