Fabrication and characterisation of copper-alumina nanocomposites prepared by high-energy fast milling

Two different methods are used to prepare Cu-20 vol-% Al2O3 nanocomposite powders via high-energy planetary fast milling. In the solid solution method, CuO powder was added to the Cu-Al solid solution powder, and the composite was fabricated by milling after 100 h. In the direct mixing method, Cu and Al2O3 powders were mechanically milled via high-energy planetary fast milling for 100 h. The transition electron micrographs (dark and white fields) revealed the presence of Al2O3 nanoparticles in crystalline Cu matrices for both methods. However, the density and bending strength of the nanocomposites produced via the solid solution method were higher than those of the samples produced via the direct mixing method.