Performance and Properties of Cu-SmCo_5 Functional Composite Materials

摘要

In order to look for novel applications of copper in advanced structural and functional fields, Cu-SmCo_5 alloys with 8wt%SmCo_5 were processed through mechanical alloying for different milling time. As SmCo_5 particles are very hard and brittle, it can be dispersed as nano-particles in a ductile Copper matrix during mechanical milling, which is feasible to obtain a reinforced Cu based composite with high strength, moderate toughness for structural applications. The SmCo_5 nano-particles will achieve the saturation magnetization (M_s) under the magnetic field, which improves the electrical and soft magnetic properties that can be used in dielectromagnetic components for functional applications. Each milled alloy was characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS techniques. The consolidation of milled powders of all alloys were performed through a cold compacting process followed by sintering at 1073 K for 2 h in vacuum/argon to get densified samples. The consolidated alloys were characterized by Vickers microhardness test and SEM-EDS microanalysis to study their microstructural evolution like phase structure, morphology, size of SmCo_5 particles and precipitation of impurities dispersed in copper during sintering.