Strengthening Mechanisms on (Cu-10Zn)100-x-x wt% Al2O3 (x=0, 3, 6, 9 and 12) Nanocomposites Prepared by Mechanical Alloying and Vacuum Hot Pressing: Influence of Reinforcement Content

In the present research work, novel (Cu-10Zn)(100-x)-x wt% Al2O3 (x = 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12) nanocomposites were manufactured by mechanical alloying process and vacuum hot-pressing technique. As-sintered hot pressed samples exhibited crystallite size of 280, 230, 184, 152 and 122 nm with properties of nano-alumina particles which were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The influence of nano ceramic alumina content in Cu-10Zn nanocrystallite matrix on mechanical behavior was investigated by simple uniaxial compression test. The examination of compressive results revealed that (Cu-10Zn)(94)-6%Al2O3 nanocomposite was more work hardening than others. Several strengthening mechanisms, namely, particle strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, solid solution strengthening and dislocation-dislocation interactions were quantitatively estimated and correlated with measured compression strength results. It was found that the grain size and dispersion strengthenings contributed significantly to the total strength.