The Mechanical Milling Behavior of Ductile Cu Flakes when Using Ultrafine Al₂O₃ Reinforcements

Abstract

In this study the effects of harder ultrafine Al2O3 particles on the mechanical milling of ductile Cu flakes (200mesh, 70μm) have been investigated. The small hard Al2O3 particle in the mixture acted as an effective milling agent not only by inducing a drastic change of the Cu morphology from flattened flakes to equiaxed crystals but also by reducing the milling time required for a uniform dispersion of Al2O3 in the Cu matrix. This was more pronounced as the Al2O3 concentration increased. A critical concentration of the reinforcing Al2O3 required for a shape change was observed at the range of 8 to 9wt. %. All the hard Al2O3 particles were uniformly embedded in the ductile Cu matrix regardless of the concentration of Al2O3. By increasing the milling time, the weldment and fragmentation of the Cu flakes became significant and a uniformly distributed equiaxed composite structure (13wt.% Al2O3) was obtained at above 70 min..