Evaluation of Milling Time and Balls Diameters during Surface Mechanical Coating (SMC) in the Presence of Copper Powder and Nickel Balls

Formation of solid solution through providing powder from the surface of ball and also feasibility of surface mechanical coating (SMC) by using mechanical alloying method and effects of the two parameters, milling time and ball diameter on these two matters are items that are being reviewed in this article. In this work, mechanical alloying process in the presence of copper powder and nickel balls have been used. Parameters which were studied are: 1- milling time (5, 10, 20, 60 and 120 hours) and 2- ball diameters (5 and 9 mm). Various analyses included X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) have been used in order to obtain the desired results. The experiments indicates that providing powder from surface of ball increases with the increase of milling time and ball diameter. It was also specified that formation of coating on the surface of ball is possible at the time of mechanical alloying process. Also, by line scan of elemental analysis from balls cross section, it is determined that chemical compound in coating is different for samples and there is logical relationship with ball milling parameters.