Abstract

RODRIGUEZ BARACALDO, Rodolfo; BENITO, Jose Antonio  and  CABRERA, José María. Nanocrystalline and ultrafine grain copper obtained by mechanical attrition. Ing. Investig. [online]. 2010, vol.30, n.1, pp.141-145. ISSN 0120-5609.

This article presents a method for the sample preparation and characterisation of bulk copper having grain size lower than 1 µm (ultra-fine grain) and lower than 100 nm grain size (nanocrystalline). Copper is initially manufactured by a milling/alloying mechanical method thereby obtaining a powder having a nanocrystalline structure which is then consolidated through a process of warm compaction at high pressure. Microstructural characterisation of bulk copper samples showed the evolution of grain size during all stages involved in obtaining it. The results led to determining the necessary conditions for achieving a wide range of grain sizes. Mechanical characterisation indicated an increase in microhardness to values of around 3.40 GPa for unconsolidated nanocrystalline powder. Compressivee strength was increased by reducing the grain size, thereby obtaining an elastic limit of 650 MPa for consolidated copper having a ~ 62 nm grain size.

Keywords : copper; severe plastic deformation; nanocrystalline; ultra-fine grain; mechanical milling.

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