Preparation and characterization of Copper-Chromium nanostructures by Mechanical milling.

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of Cu96Cr4 and Cu95Cr5 nanostructures developed by high energy ball milling have been carried out in the present study. Mixtures of Copper and Chromium in the desired quantities were ball milled in stainless steel grinding media to prepare the required nanocomposites. Toluene was used as process control agent. Mill speed was maintained at 400 rpm and milling was continued for 50 h. The extents of alloying, structural and morphological changes of the nanocomposites in the powder form were analyzed and studied using X-ray diffractometer, Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EADX). X-ray diffraction data was analyzed by using X’Pert highscore plus for the determination of crystallite size and lattice microstrain (%). The powder samples were then compacted under uniaxial pressing using a pressure of 690MPa. The pellets were then sintered in nitrogen atmosphere at 900°C for a soaking period of one hour. The sintered specimens were again studied using SEM and XRD for microstructural analysis. The Vickers microhardness of the sintered samples was also measured.