Copper Powder Research Articles

Antimicrobial property, corrosion resistance and tarnish resistance of cold-sprayed additive manufactured copper-nickel alloy

The management of infectious diseases has posed a significant challenge in recent years, drawing the attention of scientific communities. Copper is renowned for its robust antimicrobial properties; however, it is susceptible to tarnishing. In contrast, copper-nickel alloy demonstrates not only commendable mechanical strength and corrosion resistance but also exceptional antimicrobial efficacy. A suitable copper-nickel alloy was synthesised using cold spray additive manufacturing, blending copper and nickel powders. The resultant as-printed coupons underwent heat treatment at varying temperatures to ensure alloy formation, porosity reduction, and property enhancement. Both corrosion properties and hardness were investigated across different selected heat treatment conditions. The specimens exhibiting the highest corrosion resistance and hardness were selected for antibacterial and tarnish resistance testing. Stainless Steel 316 was employed in the antibacterial evaluation as a negative control for comparison. Notably, a fair well distribution of copper and nickel was observed within the as-printed product. The optimal heat treatment condition for the copper-nickel alloy was determined to be 1030 °C followed by air cooling, as it exhibited superior material properties compared to alternative heat treatment conditions. An assessment of antimicrobial performance underscored the alloy’s effectiveness in rapidly eradicating bacteria. Additionally, the highest strength samples underwent a tarnish resistance study, revealing elevated tarnish resistance. The nature of material performance in response to the heat-treatment process and antibacterial performance are discussed.

Improving the cementation effect of copper on gold in thiosulfate solution by pre-regulating the existing form of Cu2+

The effective recovery of Au(S2O3)23− from leachates using thiosulfate gold extraction techniques remains challenging. Metal cementation can be efficiently used to recover Au(S2O3)23−, but is easily affected by the oxidant (Cu(II)) in solution, leading to problems such as high consumption of the reduced metals and copper–gold co-precipitation. Copper powder cementation can prevent the co-precipitation of copper in solution to improve the grade of the gold product and also supplement the oxidant in the solution, thereby enhancing the cyclic leaching of gold into the solution, which can reduce production costs. In this study, copper powder was used to recover gold ions and the results showed that the gold cementation rate was negatively correlated with the Cu(NH3)42+ concentration. In order to weaken the negative influence of Cu(NH3)42+, this study proposes the application of a reduction voltage to convert Cu(NH3)42+ in solution to Cu(S2O3)35− before adding copper powder. After applying a reduction voltage of 0.14 V to a solution of 5 mmol/L CuSO4, 0.5 mol/L NH3, 0.1 mol/L Na2S2O3, and 10 mg/L Au(S2O3)23− for 20 min, the concentration of Cu(NH3)42+ in the solution changed from 5 mmol/L to 0.88 mmol/L. Under these conditions, gold ions were recovered, and the consumption of copper powder was reduced by 60%. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization showed that under a applied reduction potential, the gold content on the surface of the copper powder was higher, and the Cu(II) content in the surface copper species was lower than that achieved in the direct cementation of copper powder. After cementation was completed, stirring the residual solution for 20 min restored the concentration of Cu(NH3)42+ to 4.963 mmol/L. At this point, the leaching rate of gold ore into the solution reached 89% of the first leaching, which maximized the circulation of the solution.

Use of laser cladding for the synthesis of coatings from high-entropy alloys reinforced with ceramic particles

The purpose of this work was to develop methods for obtaining composite coatings based on high-entropy alloys by laser cladding from mixtures of low-entropy powders. Powders of pure copper (Cu), titanium carbide (TiC), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), as well as commercial powders of low- and medium-entropy alloys were used for the implementation of laser additive technologies. The powder particle size ranged from 40 to 150 µm. Coatings were obtained using an ytterbium fiber-optic laser on a steel substrate. The structure of experimental samples was studied on a scanning electron microscope. In order to confirm the composition of the zones found in the studied samples (for chemical and structural analysis of phases in the studied samples), X-ray spectral microanalysis was performed using an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The phase structure of the obtained samples was studied by X-ray phase analysis using a powder diffractometer using Cu-Kα radiation. The technique used made it possible to obtain composite coatings with inclusions of Al2O3 and TiC. The results of the work open the way to the development of technologies for producing, by laser cladding, highly functional coatings from high-entropy alloys strengthened with reinforcing ceramic particles or from composite materials based on high-entropy alloys, using a combination of commercially available powders of low-entropy and medium-entropy alloys.

Experimental study on evaporation heat transfer characteristics of multi-composite porous wick with three different powders

Based on our previous research, the composite porous wick with spherical-dendritic powders owns biporous structure and uneven local thermal conductivity. In this paper, a multi-composite porous wick sintered with three different materials and structures of spherical copper, spherical nickel and dendritic nickel is tested. The spherical copper is beneficial to expansion of the evaporation heat transfer area, the dendritic nickel can provide sufficient liquid for evaporation, and the spherical nickel is used to regulate the distribution of spherical-dendritic powders and large pores. Through the evaporation heat transfer experiment, it is found that there are five different types of operating temperature and evaporation mass curves, including continuous and intermittent overshoot, single overshoot, stable operation and temperature losing control. The occurrence of the overshoot is affected by the bubble behavior in the bottom of the porous wick. And two types of the vapor–liquid interface behavior occur in the overshoot operation, in which the porous wick is penetrated by a single bubble or the evaporating interface, respectively. The multi-composite porous wick can reach a maximum heat load of 520 W (the corresponding heat flux is 43.5 W/cm2), and the highest heat transfer coefficient of the open capillary evaporator can reach 2776.1 W/(m2·K), with the lowest total thermal resistance is 0.3089 K/W at 500 W heat load. As a reference using a composite porous wick prepared with spherical copper powder and dendritic nickel powder of the same volume ratio, its maximum heat load is only 210 W (the corresponding heat flux is 17.6 W/cm2). The multi-composite porous wick shows better evaporation heat transfer performance. After the evaporation heat transfer experiment, the oxidized multi-composite porous wick still shows good wettability. It is inferred that a mixed wetting structure is formed inside it due to the composite structure sintered by three kinds of metal powders, which may be beneficial for improving the evaporation heat transfer performance of the multi-composite porous wick. In addition, the conditions such as lower effective thermal conductivity, more uneven local thermal conductivity, and large pores provided by the unchanged spherical nickel powder may also play a role.

FAILURE OF FRICTION BRAKE PAD AGAINST RAPID BRAKING AND IT’S LIFE ENHANCEMENT

This Disc brake have evolved to be a reliable method of decelerating and stopping a vehicle. There have been different designs of disc brake systems for different applications. This review describes different aspects of the components and the materials used in a disc brake system. Despite all the improvements, there are still many operational issues related to disc brakes that need to be understood in greater detail and resolved. The basic principle used in braking systems is to convert the kinetic energy of a vehicle into some other form of energy. During a braking operation not all the kinetic energy is converted into the desired form, some energy might be dissipated in the form of heat and vibrations. Graphene is still a very new material, especially in friction brake compounds. Due to its unique properties and years of testing, we were able to develop a friction material like no other. In the automotive industry, where every major car maker has already filed several patent applications for friction compounds containing graphene, it's clear to see that it is the future of braking pads. New regulations which start from 2025 will prohibit the use of copper powder in disc pads. Graphene is not only an excellent substitute for copper, but a major upgrade in terms of performance. Key Words: Friction Brakes, Disc Brakes, Braking Systems, Brake pads, Heat Transfer, Heat Management, Wear Testing , Wear modeling, Material Doping, Pin on Disc, etc.

Comparison of fundamental properties and durability of mortar mixed with antibacterial functional materials

The fundamental properties and durability of mortar mixed with phytoncide, zeolite or copper powder were evaluated. For different phytoncide substitution ratios (SRs), there was no significant difference in the flow, compressive strength and flexural strength of the mortar. With an increase in the SR of zeolite, the workability decreased, while the compressive strength, flexural strength and chloride penetration resistance increased. The compressive and flexural strengths of the mortars mixed with copper powder were higher than those of the reference mix. With an increase in the SR of copper powder, the flow slightly increased and the chloride penetration resistance decreased.

Development of Flexible Semiconductors Based on g-C3N4/Cu2O P–N Heterojunction for Triboelectric Nanogenerator Application

This research aims to develop flexible semiconductors for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) applications. The sample powders of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) as N-type and P-type semiconductors, respectively, were synthesized. The semiconductors were prepared to be a composite film with alginate. The structure, morphology, and purity of the N- and P-type semiconductors were characterized using X-Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Through the optical characterization, the N-type semiconductor showed the calculated energy band gap of 2.80 eV, while the P-type semiconductor was 1.90 eV. The P–N junction property of prepared samples was confirmed using a nonlinear current–voltage characteristic. After that, two flexible semiconductors were frictional paired for TENG. Through a vertical contact-separation mode, the P–N junction-based TENG produced a maximum output voltage and current of 3.90 V and 0.44 µA, respectively, with a maximum output power of 0.35 µW at 10 MΩ. In summary, the present work achieved the preparation of flexible P- and N-type semiconductors. The feasibility to harvest the mechanical energy was demonstrated in the TENG configuration. This idea is crucial for the future development of flexible harvesting/sensing devices using a novel concept.

Effect of Low-Temperature Thermal Oxidation on the Capillary Performance of Sintered Copper Powder Wicks

Effect of Low-Temperature Thermal Oxidation on the Capillary Performance of Sintered Copper Powder Wicks

Electrical properties of low temperature-sensitive coating sensor for fatigue crack monitoring in steel bridges

Coating sensors are used for high-precision monitoring of fatigue cracks in steel bridges. However, the time-variation temperature has a considerable impact on the monitoring precision of fatigue cracking of steel bridges. This study developed a coating sensor using silver-plated copper powder (conductive filler)/acrylate composites as a sensing layer of a coating sensor to monitor fatigue cracks considering variable ambient temperatures. The synthesis and preparation of the composite were presented, and the microstructures of the coating sensor composites were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The bulk conductivity of the sensing layer at different conductive filler contents was measured by the four-probe method to investigate the effect of the concentration of the conductive filler on the electrical conductivity and temperature sensitivity of the resistivity. Moreover, the fractional change in resistivity (FCR) of the sensing layer was tested over a range of temperatures to investigate the temperature sensitivity of resistivity at different conductive filler contents. Finally, the composite with the lowest temperature sensitivity of resistivity was selected to prepare a coating sensor for fatigue crack monitoring. The composite of the sensing layer with 60 wt% of conductive filler content had the lowest temperature sensitivity of resistivity with a minimum value (5.1%) of FCR. The maximum range of the FCR did not exceed 6.4% under cyclic loading and variation-time ambient temperatures. The temperature variation had minimal effects on the output signal of the coating sensor compared with the output signal variation caused by fatigue cracking. The proposed coating sensor can be used for high-precision monitoring of fatigue cracking in steel bridges under different ambient temperatures.

Conservation Processing of Modern and Contemporary Outdoor Bronze Sculptures

‘Pieta’(1980) by Se Choong Kim required scientific analysis and conservation treatment due to long outdoor exhibitions and paint on surface of bronze sculpture. However, there was a concern that the originality of artwork and ‘moral rights of the artist(the right of integrity)’ could be violated by including conservation treatment methods that were inevitably irreversible, such as removing the old layer and re-patination. Accordingly, the brown color that was mainly used during the artist’s lifetime, was selected as the patination color through collaboration with various stakeholders. As a result of analyzing the making technique of ‘Pieta’, it was found that it was cast in Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb quaternary art bronze. The material, methods, and environment at the time of making artwork were confirmed by comparing the result of scientific analysis of welding, repair, and defects with inerviews with casting engineers. The paint painted on the surface of the bronze sculpture was confirmed as painted twice with metalic paint mixed with polystyrene and copper powder and graphite-based paint. Laser cleaning was applied after a preliminary experiments to stably remove paint, and 95% of the paint layer area was uniformly removed as a result of comparing and analyzing the volume before and after removal through 3D scanning. Brown patina was applied through patination then wax coating to finish.

Facile and complete sulfuric acid leaching of zinc ferrite assisted by copper powder: Leaching mechanism and kinetics investigation

Zinc ferrite is a dominant phase in mass solid wastes generated from zinc or iron production, which causes the obstacle of metal recovery and recycling. A facile and efficient sulfuric acid leaching process of zinc ferrite assisted by copper powder was proposed in this study. The effects of factors on the leaching of zinc ferrite and copper were investigated. The results showed that zinc ferrite and copper were coupled and leached. The complete dissolution of zinc ferrite was obtained with wide ranges of leaching conditions. The shortest time for the complete dissolution of zinc ferrite was 10 min at 80 ℃ under the conditions: copper to zinc ferrite molar ratio of 1.5, sulfuric acid concentration of 100 g/L, liquid to solid ratio of 30 mL/g, and copper powder of + 38.5–20 μm. The least consumption of copper to realize the complete dissolution of zinc ferrite was 27.15%. The leaching kinetics was studied by the shrinking core model. It was found that zinc ferrite leaching assisted by copper was controlled by surface chemical reaction. The apparent activation energies for zinc, iron, and copper are 56 kJ/mol, 56 kJ/mol, and 50 kJ/mol, respectively. Characterization of the leaching residues and determination of iron and copper species in the leaching solution showed galvanic corrosion took place between zinc ferrite and copper, enhancing their acid dissolution.

3D metal printed slot antenna array with high gain and enhanced bandwidth using triple‐mode sine corrugated cavity resonator

AbstractThis letter proposes a class of sine corrugated cavity resonators (SCCR). The SCCR can present slow‐wave features and provide dual‐mode (TE104 and TE105) wideband responses with reasonable sine period and depth. Based on it, a compact high‐gain bandwidth‐enhanced SCCR slot antenna array is designed. The high gain is obtained with seven radiation slots and the wideband is achieved due to three modes being utilised. The three modes include the modes of TE104 and TE105 of the SCCR and one feed slot mode. Compared with published works, the desired TE104 and TE105 can be obtained straightforwardly based on SCCR. The standard WR62 waveguide is utilised to feed the antenna. For validation, direct metal 3D printing technology is used to fabricate it with aluminium and copper powders as a comparison. Both measured results were discussed and showed a good agreement with the simulated ones.

Oxide-Derived Copper Nanowire Bundles for Efficient CO2 Reduction to Multi-Carbon Products

Cu-based catalysts for efficient C2+ production from CO2 electrocatalytic reduction reaction (CO2ERR) exhibit significant promise, but still suffer from ambiguous mechanisms due to the intrinsic structure instability during electroreduction. Herein, we report an oxide-derived copper nanowire bundle (OD-Cu NWB) for efficient CO2ERR to C2+ products. OD-Cu NWBs with a well-preserved nanowire bundle morphology lead to promoted multi-carbon production compared to commercial copper powders. The formation of OD-Cu NWBs shows a great dependence on the precipitation/calcination temperatures and per-reduction potentials, which further influence the ultimate CO2ERR performance correspondingly. The optimized preparation parameters for the formation of a well-ordered nanowire bundle morphology are found, leading to a preferred C2+ production ability. Besides the nanowire bundle morphology, the oxide-derived Cu essence of OD-Cu NWBs with stabilized Cu+ species from per-reduction also promotes the CO2ERR activity and facilitates the C-C coupling of key intermediates for C2+ production. This work provides a facile strategy and inspiration for CO2ERR catalyst developments targeting high-valued multi-carbon products.

Development of in-situ Zn–3Cu–10ZnO composite prepared by high-pressure solidification for orthopedic applications

Biodegradable zinc (Zn)-based composites are considered to be the next generation of promising orthopedic implant materials due to their degradability and the multiple functionality of combining metal and ceramic phases. However, its clinical bone-implant application is seriously limited due to their poor interface binding ability and mechanical properties. Herein, we developed the biodegradable in-situ Zn–3Cu–10ZnO composite through powder metallurgy using Zn and copper (Cu) powder combined with hot forging, followed by the high-pressure solidification (HPS) process for bone-implant application. Microstructural characterization showed that the HPS process can densify composite, form a uniform distribution of fine ZnO particle, and increase Cu atom solid solubility in the Zn matrix. Mechanical test revealed that the HPS composite exhibited a high compression performance with a compressive yield strength of 340.8 MPa, an ultimate compressive strength of 514.2 MPa, and a failure strain of ≥70%. The HPS composite exhibited the lowest corrosion rate of 25.8 μm/y and 44.3 μm/y measured by electrochemical corrosion and immersion tests, respectively, among these composites. Moreover, the diluted extracts of HPS composite with a concentration of ent% showed a higher cytocompatibility among these composites and better antimicrobial capability than those of the as-cast pure Zn. Accordingly, the HPS Zn–3Cu–10ZnO composite is expected to be a potential biodegradable material for orthopedic applications.

Construction of Al-Mg-Si-Cu(p) composite coating on aluminum alloy 1050 substrate

The AA6061 aluminum alloy matrix composite reinforced by copper particles was applied to the AA1050 aluminum substrate using a friction surfacing process. The effect of reinforcement content and pre-coating heat treatment condition of the consumable rod on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. The results showed that coating with T6 treated consumable rod and increasing the mass fraction of copper powder resulted in higher temperature during friction surfacing. With increasing the mass fraction of copper powder, the average grain size of the coatings created with T6 and solid solutionized rods decreased. The average grain size of the coating in the samples created with the solid solutionized rod was 16% finer than that in the samples created with T6 rods. By increasing the mass fraction of copper to 20%, the wear resistance in coatings created with T6 and solid solutionized rods is increased by 28% and 24%, respectively, compared to that of the AA1050 substrate. Furthermore, by using a T6 rod and 20 wt.% copper, the shear strength, hardness, and wear resistance of the coating were 4%, 8%, and 5%, respectively, higher than those of the coating created with the solution-treated rod.

Evaluation of synergistic adsorption approach for terbinafine removal by cotton shell powder immobilized zerovalent copper: Adsorption kinetics and DFT simulation

Cotton shell powder (CS), nano zerovalent copper (nZVC) and cotton shell powder immobilized zerovalent copper (ZVC@CS) were evaluated for their adsorption efficiencies towards terbinafine hydrochloride (TBH), an antifungal drug. The nZVC and ZVC@CS synthesized via one pot redox precipitation method were characterized by FTIR, XRD, BET, FESEM and TGA analysis. The TGA and AAS analysis confirmed the loading of nearly 10% of nZVC on cotton shell powder in ZVC@CS. The effect of operational parameters (pH, adsorbent dose, initial drug concentration, time, etc.) determining the extent of terbinafine hydrochloride adsorption on ZVC@CS were investigated to ascertain the optimal experimental conditions to achieve maximum adsorption efficiencies. To investigate the adsorption behavior of TBH on ZVC@CS, the experimental data were fitted for five different adsorption models viz. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Redlich-Peterson and Hill isotherms. The TBH adsorption data was best fit with Hill isotherm model indicating cooperative sorption of TBH molecules on ZVC@CS surface. Among the five kinetic equations namely the pseudo-first-order (PFO), the pseudo-second-order (PSO), Elovich model, the intraparticle diffusion model, and Boyd kinetic model used to estimate the adsorption mechanism, the PFO kinetic model give best fit with a good correlation for the physisorption of TBH on ZVC@CS composite. The mechanism of the adsorption process was observed to be complex, consisting of both surface adsorption and pore diffusion. However, the Boyd plot confirms external mass transport as the rate limiting step for the adsorption of TBH on ZVC@CS. The synergistic adsorption of TBH on ZVC@CS was hypothesized, and the idea was supported by structure optimization results from DFT studies. The ZVC@CS exhibits equilibrium TBH adsorption efficiency (qmax) of 285.3 mg.g−1, significantly higher than adsorbents used in literature for the TBH removal.It is suggested that ZVC@CS may serve as sustainable adsorbents for the removal of cationic contaminants from acidic medium.

A cleaner and sustainable method for recovering rare earth and cobalt from NdFeB leaching residues

NdFeB leaching residues (NLRs) is produced by the treatment of NdFeB waste by HCl preferential dissolution method, which contains about 1% rare earth and cobalt (Co). The extraction of valuable elements from the residue has a great impact on the sustainable utilization of rare-earth resources. In this study, a high-efficiency hydrometallurgy process was proposed to achieve a high conversion of valuable elements and the recycling of additives by reductive acid leaching. First, NLRs were characterized by the Bgrimm process mineralogy analyzing system, which confirmed that the iron oxide main phase encapsulates the rare earth phase. It was effective in destroying the main phase by chemical dissociation. In addition, the effects of temperature, reaction time, initial acid concentration, solid-liquid ratio (S/L), and reducing agent dosage on leaching efficiency were investigated. Under optimal conditions, 90.6% Co, 89.1% neodymium (Nd), 77.2% praseodymium (Pr), 88.7% cerium (Ce) and 83.8% iron (Fe) leached. The reaction mechanism and leaching kinetics in the leaching process were systematically explored. The kinetic analysis indicated the leaching reaction of Co and Fe was controlled by interfacial chemical reaction and the leaching reaction of Nd, Pr and Ce was controlled by internal diffusion. The activation energies of Co, Fe, Nd, Pr and Ce were 21.06, 18.07, 23.37, 20.56 and 18.52 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the reducing agent (copper powder) was successfully recovered by iron powder. The recovery rate of the copper powder was 99.93% and the purity was 93.42%. The proposed process has a promising application for industrial-scale recycling.

Characteristics of Natural Fiber Composites Materials Reinforced with Aluminum and Copper Powder for The Performance of Automatic Motorcycle Clutch Pad

Currently, research on natural fiber composites (NFC) for automotive applications has attracted the attention of researchers and academics. Natural fibers such as coconut fiber and wood powder are mixed with metal materials such as aluminum and copper to obtain the composite characteristics of automatic motorcycle clutch pad materials. Coconut fiber and wood powder are suitable natural materials for composites and are easily obtained from waste. Natural fiber materials with metal reinforcement into composites are expected to produce materials suitable for friction materials such as clutch pads and brake pads with a good characteristic. This study aims to determine the characteristics of the coefficient of friction, wear, and hardness of NFC materials reinforced aluminum and copper powder for the performance of automatic motorcycle clutch pads. Experiments were carried out on various compositions of aluminum and copper powder. Tribometer testing was carried out to determine the friction coefficient and wear. Hardness testing using the Vickers method and testing the performance of automatic motorbikes with a chassis dyno test. The results show that the performances of the clutch pad with NFC-reinforced aluminum and copper show power and torque results that resemble the performances of genuine part materials in each operating cycle. The value of friction coefficient, wear, and hardness of this material are a value close to that of a genuine part clutch pad material. The improved performance of this material is expected to be considered in the manufacture of future clutch pads.

Surface evaporation enhancement using porous metasurfaces: 3-D multiscale, open-system wick evaporators

In open-system water-vapor production by direct heat supply, wick evaporators are promising for efficient use of the supplied heat. However, designing a suitable wick structure for achieving high evaporator performance had proven challenging. Here, novel, high-performance porous metasurfaces (unit-cell based capillary structures) are designed, fabricated and tested, using sintered copper powder. In addition, the wicks optimized for yet higher performance are presented. Vertically placed wicks are partially submerged in a pool of water, while heated through a copper substrate by Joule heating. The baseline wick is a monolayer wick, and three different particle diameters (78, 100, and 130 μm) are used. The next variations are bilayer wicks which improve the particle packing and the maximum capillary pressure. The most improvement is achieved by adding strips of capillary arteries (1 mm thick and 1 mm wide, with an interartery gap of 1 mm) on the monolayer. These unit-cell based 3-D porous metasurfaces allow for tailoring the surface design to achieve an optimal thermal-hydraulic performance. Analyses of the wick capillary-viscous dryout limit and the extended-surface heat transfer predict the performance of the fabricated wicks under the test conditions. Overall, an evaporation efficiency of unity and an evaporation enhancement by 50% are recorded.

Laser shock dynamic compaction of aluminum–copper (Al–Cu) composite metal powder

Laser impact dynamic compaction experiments and 2D multi-particle finite element method (MPFEM) simulations were carried out on aluminum–copper (Al–Cu) binary-based composite powders. Al–Cu compacts with densities of about 95% were successfully prepared at the maximum laser energy of 1.8 J. Research trends indicate that higher power lasers could nearly achieve the theoretical densities. Analysis of the influence laws of laser energy and copper powder mass fraction on the densities of Al–Cu compacts was carried out, and the effects of microstructure and microhardness of Al–Cu compacts on their mechanical properties were investigated, as well as the stresses and velocities in the dynamic compaction process of Al–Cu composite powders were analyzed. The results showed that the relative densities of composite powder compacts of Al-5 wt%Cu gradually exceeded those of Al-10 wt%Cu and Al-15 wt%Cu with the increase of laser energy. In laser impact dynamic compaction the mechanism of inter-particle joining was solid-state press-welding, and the increase in the hardness of the Al–Cu compacts could be attributed to the inherent hardness of the hard particles. The upper particles have a localized maximum velocity of more than 300 m/s, which met the explosion welding velocity, thus localized cold welding occurred and contributed to the inter-particle connection.