Spark plasma sintering of mechanically alloyed in situ copper-niobium carbide composite

A Cu-NbC composite with high electrical conductivity and high microhardness was synthesized by mechanical alloying and densified using spark plasma sintering (SPS). Mixtures of Cu-NbC powders corresponding to volume fractions of 1, 5, 15 and 25 vol% NbC were milled in a high energy planetary mill under argon atmosphere for 30 h using ethanol as process control agent. The Cu-NbC as-milled powder was sintered using spark plasma sintering temperatures between 900 and 1000 C. X-ray diffraction investigation showed that NbC started to form in the copper matrix during ball milling and the reaction between Nb and C was completed after 10 min of SPS sintering. Electrical conductivity and density of the Cu-15 vol% NbC composite increased with increasing sintering temperature. The results showed the superior properties of SPS-prepared Cu-NbC composite: electrical conductivity is almost 4 times higher and microhardness is 3.5 times higher than with normal sintering. A highest density of 98% and electrical conductivity of 45.6% IACS were obtained in the Cu-1 vol% NbC composite. The highest microhardness of 452.9 Hv was achieved in the Cu-25 vol% NbC composite. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.