Effect of Ball Milling Time on the Microstructure and Properties of Cu(Al)-TiC0.5 Composites

The types, characteristics, distribution of the reinforcing phase and its interface bonding with the matrix are the key to prepare high-performance copper matrix composites. In this study, effect of different ball milling time of Cu(Al)-TiC0.5 composites was investigated. The microstructure and properties of the composites were observed and tested by XRD, SEM, microhardness tester, conductivity tester and universal electronic testing machine. It is found that different ball milling time has a significant effect on structure and properties of Cu(Al)-TiC0.5 composites. The size of the second phase particles decreases with the increase of ball milling time. With the prolongation of ball milling time, the relative density decreases first and then increases, while the hardness increases first and then decreases. It has little effect on tensile strength, but excessive ball milling time will seriously damage the elongation. When the ball milling time is 6 h, the material is nearly completely compact, the hardness value is 111 HV, the conductivity is 77.9% IACS, and the tensile strength is 349.4 MPa.