Development of Ni/h-BN Self-Lubricating Composite Powder by High-Energy Ball Milling

Abstract

Solid lubricants have had good acceptance when used in problem areas where the conventional lubricants cannot be applied: under extreme temperatures, high charges and in chemically reactive environments. In case of materials manufactured by powder metallurgy, particles of solid lubricants powders can be easily incorporated to the matrix volume at the mixing stage. In operation, this kind of material provides a thin layer of lubricant that prevents direct contact between the surfaces. The present study aimed at incorporating particles of second phase lubricant (h-BN) into a matrix of nickel by high-energy ball milling in order to obtain a self-lubricating composite with homogeneous phase distribution of lubricant in the matrix. Mixtures with 10 vol.% of h-BN varying the milling time of 5, 10, 15 and 20 hours and their relationship ball/powder of 20:1 were performed. The effect of milling time on the morphology and microstructure of the powders was studied by X-ray diffraction, SEM and EDS. The composite powders showed reduction in average particle size with increasing milling time and the milling higher than 5 hours resulted in equiaxial particles and the formation of nickel boride.