Abstract
The microstructural evolution and thermal properties of nanocrystalline (nc) Cu during mechanical attrition were investigated by using quantitative x-ray-diffraction and thermal analysis techniques. Upon milling of the Cu powders with coarse grains, the grain sizes are found to decrease gradually with the milling time, and remain unchanged at a steady-state value (about 11 nm) with continued milling. The microstrain and the stored enthalpy increase to maximum values during the grain refinement, and decrease then increase to the second maxima and decrease again within the milling stage of steady-state grain size, while the lattice parameter remains unchanged during the entire milling process. The grain boundary (GB) enthalpy of the nc Cu was estimated, showing a GB softening-hardening-softening cyclic variation within the steady-state milling. The present work indicated with clear experimental evidence that even within the milling stage of steady-state grain size, the microstructure (both the GB's and the crystallites) of nc materials is still changing, which may result from the GB sliding.
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