Development of Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced with Non-agglomerated Nanodiamonds

V. A. Popov; T. F. George

V. A. Popov National University of Science and Technology �MISIS�, Leninsky Prospect 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia.
T. F. George Office of the Chancellor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry / Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA.

Keywords: Metal matrix composites, nanodiamonds, mechanical alloying, electrochemical nanocomposite coating

Abstract

This paper addresses the production of metal matrix nanocomposites with non-agglomerated reinforcing nanodiamond particles. The main method of producing nanocomposites is mechanical alloying. Based on an investigation of this ball milling process with the use of a mixture of different colored copper and brass particles, appropriate technological conditions of the treatment are determined. It is shown that an increased volume fraction of nanodiamonds inside copper matrix under some regimes can lead to enhanced oxidation of the matrix. The technological conditions are established to allow for the production of composites with non-agglomerated uniformly-distributed nanodiamond reinforcing particles without any oxidation. It is possible to use copper matrix composites as bulk and for the development of electrochemical composite coatings. For aluminum matrix composites, differential scanning calorimetry have shown that the reaction between the components to produce aluminum carbide starts at 400-450C (for macromaterials, such reaction starts at 1200C). It is shown that nanodiamonds could be efficient in reinforcing particles in composite materials in workable temperature interval.