Belgrade : Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA
Abstract
In this study, the Cu-Zr-B ternary system was investigated as it has proven to be a promising composite material used in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, nuclear and tooling, among others. Owing to its versatility and a combination of desirable properties such as high strength and hardness, corrosion and wear resistance, and thermal stability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. The effects of mechanical alloying (MA) parameters on the Cu-Zr-B properties, including ball-to-powder ratio, rotation speed, milling time, and milling atmosphere, were examined using the X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, stereological analysis, and the Williamson-Hall analysis. Different mills, namely Atritor Mill and Turbula Shaker, were used in order to determine the effect that the type of mill has on the final structural parameters of the Cu-Zr-B. All results are given after 20 hours of mechanical alloying of the composite material. The rotation speed was around 300 rpm for both devices, and the ball-to-powder ratio was 10:1 for all the cases. It was shown that the ball size also plays a significant role in the final microstructural and morphological properties of the MA powders of the Cu-Zr-B. A comprehensive analysis showed that the powders produced in the Atritor mill (Powder 1, with a uniform ball size), as well as the powders produced in the Turbula where there was a range of different ball sizes used (Powder 2), showed lower values of dislocation density and crystalline size values compared to the powders produced in the Turbula with a uniform ball size (Powder 3). It is important to state that, with time, due to the plastic deformation mechanisms present, crystallite size decreases in all cases, with the lowest value again being powder 3.Twenty-First Young Researchers’ Conference - Materials Science and Engineering: Program and the Book of Abstracts; November 29 – December 1, 2023, Belgrade, Serbi
