Effect of milling parameters on sinterability, mechanical and electrical properties of Cu-4Â wt.% ZrO2 nanocomposite

Mechanical alloying was used to produce Cu matrix nanocomposite reinforced by 4 wt.% ZrO2 nanoparticles with different milling time up to 16 h and ball-to-powder ratios (BPRs) up to 40:1. The milled nanocomposite powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To study the sinterability, the milled powders were cold pressed and sintered at 800 °C for 1 h in argon atmosphere. In order to investigate the relative density and microstructures of the sintered nanocomposites, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were employed. The electrical and mechanical properties of the sintered nanocomposites were also examined. The results revealed that a uniform distribution of ZrO2 reinforcement in Cu matrix was successfully obtained and the agglomeration, crystal and particle sizes were decreased after either milling times and/or BPRs. The results also pointed out that the relative density, microhardness, compressive strength and electrical conductivity of the sintered nanocomposite samples were increased with the increasing of milling time and/or BPRs while apparent porosity was decreased. The maximum values of microhardness, compressive strength and electrical conductivity were 872 MPa, 304 MPa and 45.9% IACS, respectively for the milled sample for 16 h and BRP 40:1.