Effect of boron carbide nano particles in CuSi4Zn14 silicone bronze nanocomposites on matrix powder surface morphology and structural evolution via mechanical alloying

In the present research work, 82Cu4Si14Zn]_100-x – x wt% B₄C (x?=?0, 3, 6, 9, and 12) nanocomposite powders had synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA). The MA process had carried out in a single vial high-energy planetary ball mill with the ball-to-powder ratio of 10:1 for 20?h. The results had revealed that the addition of B₄C nano-ceramic particles had contributed more reduction on Cu-Zn-Si matrix powder particle size, changes in shapes, and structural refinement. The synthesized nanocomposite powders had characterized by advanced microscopes. The calculated average nanocomposite powder particle size was 13?±?1.2?µm, 9?±?0.8?µm, 5?±?0.65?µm, 3?±?0.4?µm, and 1?±?0.25?µm for 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12?wt% B₄C reinforced nanocomposite powders respectively. Further, an average nanocrystallite size of 84?nm had obtained for CuSi4Zn14]-0% B₄C sample whereas 13?nm had achieved for CuSi4Zn14]-12% B₄C sample. This had attributed by variation in repeated cold welding, severe plastic deformation, and fragmentation of mechanical collisions with the function of boron carbide (B₄C) nano-ceramic particles in Cu-Zn-Si matrix. In addition, the laser powder particle size (diameter, μm) and its distribution at D₁₀₀, D₁₀, D₅, D₁, D_0.1, and D_0.01 with the function of the percentage of B₄C ceramic particles had also studied and investigated.