Tribology and Materials | Volume 5 | Issue 2 | 2026 | 50-62
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https://doi.org/10.46793/tribomat.2026.004
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Optimisation of microstructure and wear properties of porous Fe-Cu bearing materials
Sutrisna Sutrisna
1,
Muhamad Jalu Purnomo2,
Wartono Wartono1,
Angger Bagus Prasetiyo3,
Mohammad Imami Syacitta Riadji1,
Waldi Putra Mingwaro1
1 Faculty of Engineering and Planning, Institut Teknologi Nasional Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2 Faculty of Aerospace Technology, Institut Teknologi Dirgantara Adisutjipto, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Tidar, Magelang, Indonesia
Abstract: Optimising Fe-Cu porous bearing materials is essential for improving durability and wear resistance in automotive systems. However, the combined influence of mechanical alloying and sintering processes on their microstructural properties and tribological response has not been systematically clarified. In this study, a Fe-20Cu alloy was fabricated via mechanical alloying for 4, 8, 12 and 16 h, followed by sintering at 800, 900 and 1000 °C. X-ray diffraction revealed progressive peak broadening and structural refinement with increasing milling time, while scanning electron microscopy indicated a transformation from coarse, heterogeneous particles (4 h) to refined, compact structures after extended milling. Sintering improved interparticle bonding and densification, with the most uniform and consolidated microstructure obtained at 1000 °C. Energy-dispersive X-ray mapping confirmed enhanced Fe-Cu mixing with minor oxide enrichment. Testing demonstrated the lowest wear rate (1.45 × 10–4 mm3/m) and the highest density (7.22 g/cm3) for the sample obtained after 12 h of milling and sintering at 1000 °C. Excessive milling (16 h) slightly lowered densification due to particle reagglomeration. Overall, 12 h of milling combined with sintering at 1000 °C provides the optimal balance between densification, microstructural refinement and wear resistance, confirming Fe-Cu porous alloys as promising candidates for high-performance applications.
Keywords: Fe-Cu alloy, mechanical alloying, porous bearing, wear resistance, sintering.
Received: 13-10-2025, Revised: 06-12-2025, Accepted: 24-12-2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which allows users to distribute, remix, adapt,
and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
2 Faculty of Aerospace Technology, Institut Teknologi Dirgantara Adisutjipto, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Tidar, Magelang, Indonesia
Abstract: Optimising Fe-Cu porous bearing materials is essential for improving durability and wear resistance in automotive systems. However, the combined influence of mechanical alloying and sintering processes on their microstructural properties and tribological response has not been systematically clarified. In this study, a Fe-20Cu alloy was fabricated via mechanical alloying for 4, 8, 12 and 16 h, followed by sintering at 800, 900 and 1000 °C. X-ray diffraction revealed progressive peak broadening and structural refinement with increasing milling time, while scanning electron microscopy indicated a transformation from coarse, heterogeneous particles (4 h) to refined, compact structures after extended milling. Sintering improved interparticle bonding and densification, with the most uniform and consolidated microstructure obtained at 1000 °C. Energy-dispersive X-ray mapping confirmed enhanced Fe-Cu mixing with minor oxide enrichment. Testing demonstrated the lowest wear rate (1.45 × 10–4 mm3/m) and the highest density (7.22 g/cm3) for the sample obtained after 12 h of milling and sintering at 1000 °C. Excessive milling (16 h) slightly lowered densification due to particle reagglomeration. Overall, 12 h of milling combined with sintering at 1000 °C provides the optimal balance between densification, microstructural refinement and wear resistance, confirming Fe-Cu porous alloys as promising candidates for high-performance applications.
Keywords: Fe-Cu alloy, mechanical alloying, porous bearing, wear resistance, sintering.
Received: 13-10-2025, Revised: 06-12-2025, Accepted: 24-12-2025
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which allows users to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.