Electroless-plating of Ag nanoparticles on Al2O3 for enhanced mechanical and wear properties of Cu–Al2O3 nanocomposites

Wettability between Cu and Al2O3 nanoparticles is relatively low, which limit the applicability of this nanocomposite. To this end, electro-less deposition of Ag over Al2O3 nanoparticles were applied to improve their wettability with Cu matrix. Al2O3 coated Ag were mixed with commercially pure Cu powder in varying weight percentages (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) and then nanocomposites were synthesized through powder metallurgy route. To obtain uniform...