Abstract
We have developed a vacuum mechanofusion system which maintains a residual pressure in the reaction chamber lower than 10-2 Pa during mechanofusion processing. Using this system, we success-fully coated Cu powders of 30μ m diameter with Al2O3 powders of 0.5μ m diameter.
The effects of the residual pressure and the Al2O3 content on the mechanofusion behavior of Cu/Al2O3 particles were investigated by observing the particle size distribution and the appearance of the mechanofused particles. The mechanofusion behavior of Cu/Al2O3 particles strongly depended on the residual pressure, i.e., the volume percent of uncomposite particles decreased as the residual pressure became lower. The degree of coating promotion was dependent on the Al2O3 content. The adhesion of composite particles became stronger with decrease of Al2O3 content, especially when Al2O3 content was smaller than 1.0 wt%.
