Synthesis of novel CuSn10-graphite nanocomposite powders by mechanical alloying

CuSn₁₀-Gr nanocomposite powders were successfully synthesised by mechanical alloying of the powder mixtures of CuSn₁₀ and Gr (1, 3 and 5 wt%, respectively, of Gr). The effects of increasing the graphite particles weight percentage and milling time on the morphology, the particle size and the microstructure of the CuSn₁₀-Gr nanocomposite powders were investigated. The CuSn₁₀-Gr nanocomposite powders were characterised using a scanning electron microscope, a laser particle-size analyser, X-ray diffraction analysis and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The results show that the addition of the graphite particles as the reinforcement and the milling time has an important effect on the particle size, the morphology and the yield of the powder. The electron microscopy studies showed the formation of the equiaxed grains with a wide size distribution ranging from 50 to 250 nm. It was found that the particle size decreased until the creation of a balance between the rate of welding and fracturing. Moreover, the powder yield dropped drastically with the increasing milling time and the decreasing graphite content.