Abstract
The sintering behavior and sintered microstructures of mechanically alloyed Fe-9.5mass%Cu-0.5mass%P system have been examined by dilatometric and density measurements as well as optical microsocpic and SEM observations. Started materials for mechanical alloying (MA) were reduced pure iron powder, water atomized pure copper powder and crushed Cu-14mass%P alloy powder. MA was performed in argon gas atmosphere by using a planetary ball mill. The change in the crystallite size of the powders with MA time almost finished for 36 ks and the yielded size was estimated to be about 10 nm. Dilatometric curves show that the sintering of the MA powders begins above the temperature of about 800 K and is promoted by increasing MA time and the addition of phosphor. Sintering of MA powders at 1073 K for 36 ks gave a consolidated alloy, the density of which is comparative to that of an atomized powder alloy sintered at 1473 K. The microstructure of the sintered MA powder alloy is composed of copper particles of a few micrometer in diameter distributed in the matrix the grain size of which is less than about 5μm.
