ON THE USE OF MECHANICAL ALLOYING TO ENGINEER COPPER MATRIX COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH NANODIAMONDS

This paper addresses the production of copper matrix nanocomposites with non-agglomerated reinforcing nanodiamond particles and the fabrication of electrochemical coatings from such improved materials. 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 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 such materials as bulk and for the development of electrochemical composite coatings. It is shown that nanodiamonds could be efficient reinforcing particles in composite materials.