Characteristics of Cu-Al2O3 composites of various starting particle size obtained by high-energy milling

Abstract

The powder Cu-Al2O3 composites were produced by high-energy milling. Various combinations of particle size and mixtures and approximately constant amount of Al2O3 were used as the starting materials. These powders were separately milled in air for up to 20 h in a planetary ball mill. The copper matrix was reinforced by internal oxidation and mechanical alloying. During the milling, internal oxidation of pre-alloyed Cu-2 mass %-Al powder generated 3.7 mass % Al2O3 nano-sized particles finely dispersed in the copper matrix. The effect of different size of the starting copper and Al2O3 powder particles on the lattice parameter, lattice distortion and grain size, as well as on the size, morphology and microstructure of the Cu-Al2O3 composite powder particles was studied.