Preparation of Al-based composite using mechanical alloying

Abstract

Al-4.5wt.%Cu/15wt.%SiCp composite powder particles were produced using mechanical alloying technique. It was observed that Al-4.5wt.%Cu alloy powder particles were formed after about 21.6 ks of mechanical alloying in a planetary ball mill. SiCp particles were embedded and well distributed in the Al matrix after only 3.6 ks of mechanical alloying at a rotation speed of 434 rpm. Because of excessive cold welding for soft materials, process control agent was used to decrease the tendency of cold welding. Observation of evolution of the microstructure showed that the size of SiC particles were reduced. Sharp edges of the SiCp particles were reshaped to rounded form by the milling and collision process. Very fine powder particles of SiCp reinforcement with an average piratical size of about 3 μm homogeneously distributed in the matrix were finally obtained.