Production of copper–niobium carbide nanocomposite powders via mechanical alloying

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 399; no. 1; pp. 382 - 386
• Main Authors: Marques, M.T., Livramento, V., Correia, J.B., Almeida, A., Vilar, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.06.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Composite materials; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Mechanical alloying; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructured copper; NbC; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Composite materials; Nanostructured copper; Mechanical alloying; NbC; Scanning electron microscopy; Particle size; Annealing; Volume fraction; XRD; Hardness; Niobium carbides; Nanocomposites; Copper; Microstructure
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2005.03.090

Nanocrystalline niobium carbide was synthesed in situ in a copper matrix during high-energy milling of elemental powders. Three powder batches were produced with nominal compositions of 5, 10 and 20 vol.% NbC. Characterisation by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy indicates that early during the milling process a carbide dispersion is formed within a nanostructured copper matrix. After annealing at 873 K, the carbide structure and particle size are maintained, reflecting the ability of the microstructure to resist to coarsening. The hardness levels attained are more than twice those of nanostructured copper.