Author: C. Patiño-Carachurea, E. García-DeLeón, C. Angeles-Chávez, R. Esparza, G. Rosas-Trejo
Institute: Institute for Metallurgical Research, UMSNH, Building U, University Campus, Morelia, MI 58000, Mexico
Taking advantage of this advantage, wet ball milling was applied to enhance the milling rate and accelerate the phase breakdown process. The study was conducted using the Al embrittlement method. In this paper, the feasibility of synthesizing AlCuFe nanoparticles through wet ball milling is demonstrated. The AlCuFe intermetallic system is very susceptible to environmental influences, and the pre-alloyed Cu24Fe12 tapes were subjected to high-energy ball milling with different moisture contents. The analyzed pre-alloyed and milled powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). High resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) confirmed that the nanoparticles have a chest-shaped structure with the composition Al–Cu–Fe. During wet ball milling, the aluminum content in the ψ-phase decreases due to the embrittlement mechanism, which leads to its disordered redistribution associated with the ψ–β transformation.
Intermetallic compounds have an association with quasicrystalline phases such as B2-AlFe, which is aggregated with the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase AlCuFe. These structures have similar brittle properties. Numerous studies have shown that intermetallic compounds are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement, whereby reaction with moisture results in the formation of atomic hydrogen. This chemical reaction weakens the bonds between atoms, which promotes brittle fracture. Increasing the aluminum content aggravates this behavior, including the formation of oxide layers that increase the oxidation resistance of the compounds. In addition, high-energy ball milling (HEBM) is an effective method for producing various nanocrystalline materials, including intermetallics and quasicrystals. Wet ball milling with less particle agglomeration contributes to the production of smaller particles due to the reduction in surface energy associated with solvent adsorption. Research into the application of wet ball milling to achieve ultimate grinding in various materials is important for obtaining nanoscale particles and studying their structures.
Hydrogen embrittlement is an important process in materials science that allows modification of the properties of metals and alloys. In combination with ball milling, this method opens up new horizons for the production of nanoparticles, such as AlCuFe nanoparticles. Experiments have shown that exposure of metal matrices to hydrogen leads to the formation of cracks and defects, which then serve as initiators for crushing during ball milling.
The process begins with the preparation of AlCuFe alloy in powder form, which is placed in a ball mill. The introduction of hydrogen into the grinding chamber promotes embrittlement of the powder, which in turn facilitates its further processing. As a result of the interaction of particles under the influence of mechanical and chemical factors, highly dispersed nanoparticles are formed, which have unique physical and chemical properties, such as increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. These nanoparticles are widely used in various industries, including new technologies in electronics, energy and materials science. Research in this area is ongoing, opening up prospects for the further development of nanoengineering.