Papers by Author: Thuy Dang Nguyen

Abstract: Preparation of titanium diboride reinforced copper matrix composites with high conductivity and mechanical strength was developed based on in situ produced powders. The effect of the titanium diboride content on the mechanical properties of the bulk material produced from the powders by Spark Plasma Sintering technique was studied. Increasing titanium diboride content from 2.5 up to 7.5 wt.% resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in yield strength, tensile strength and hardness and 5-fold increase in wear resistance with only 10% decrease in conductivity.

Abstract: In the present work, Cu-TiB2 nanocomposite powders were synthesized by combining high-energy ball-milling of Cu-Ti-B mixtures and subsequent self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS). Cu-40wt.%TiB2 powders were produced by SHS reaction and ball-milled. The milled SHS powder was mixed with Cu powders by ball milling to produce Cu-2.5wt.%TiB2 composites. TiB2 particles less than 250nm were formed in the copper matrix after SHS-reaction. The releative density, electrical conductivity and hardness of specimens sintered at 650-750°C were nearly 98%, 83%IACS and 71HRB, respectively. After heat treatment at 850 to 950°C for 2 hours under Ar atmosphere, hardness was descedned by 15%. Our Cu-TiB2 composite showed good thermal stability at eleveated temperature.

Abstract: Dispersion-strengthened copper with TiB2 was produced by ball-milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS).Ball-milling was performed at a rotation speed of 300rpm for 30 and 60min in Ar atmosphere by using a planetary ball mill (AGO-2). Spark-plasma sintering was carried out at 650°C for 5min under vacuum after mechanical alloying. The hardness of the specimens sintered using powder ball milled for 60min at 300rpm increased from 16.0 to 61.8 HRB than that of specimen using powder mixed with a turbular mixer, while the electrical conductivity varied from 93.40% to 83.34%IACS. In the case of milled powder, hardness increased as milling time increased, while the electrical conductivity decreased. On the other hand, hardness decreased with increasing sintering temperature, but the electrical conductiviey increased slightly

Abstract: The microstructure and properties of Cu-TiB2 composites produced by high-energy ball-milling of TiB2 powders and spark-plasma sintering (SPS) were investigated. TiB2 powders were mechanically milled at a rotation speed of 1000rpm for short time in Ar atmosphere, using a planetary ball mill. To produce Cu-xTiB2 composites( x = 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10wt.% ), the raw and milled TiB2 powders were mixed with Cu powders by means of a turbular mixer, respectively. Sintering of mixed powders was carried out in a SPS facility under vacuum. High-energy ball-milling resulted in refinement of TiB2 particles. XRD patterns of milled TiB2 powders indicated broader TiB2 peaks with decreased intensities. After sintering at 950
for 5min using the raw and milled TiB2 mixture powders, the sintered density decreased with increasing TiB2 content regardless of milling of TiB2. In the case of raw TiB2, hardness rapidly increased from 4 to 44 HRB with increasing TiB2 content. The electrical conductivity changed from 95.5 to 80.7 %IACS. For mixtures of Cu powders with milled TiB2 powders, hardness increased from 38 to 67 HRB as TiB2 content increased, while the electrical conductivity varied from 88% to 51 % IACS. When compared to compacts sintered with raw and milled TiB2 powders, the electrical conductivity of specimens with raw TiB2 powder was higher than that of specimens with milled TiB2 powder, while hardness was slightly lower.

Abstract: Cu-TiB2 nanocomposite powders were in situ synthesized by combining high-energy ball milling of Cu-Ti-B elemental powder mixtures as precursors and subsequent self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS). Cu-40wt.% TiB2 was produced after SHS reaction and then diluted by copper to obtain desired homogeneous composites with 2.5, 5 and 10wt.%TiB2. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) was used to inhibit grain growth and thereby obtain fully Cu-TiB2 sintered bodies with nanocomposite structure. After SHS reaction, only Cu and TiB2 phases were detected in the SHS-product. Spheroidal TiB2 particles smaller than 250nm were formed in the copper matrix after SHS-reaction. Mechanical and electrical properties were investigated after SPS at 650°C for 30min under 50MPa. The electrical conductivity decreased from 75 to 54% IACS with increasing of TiB2 contents from 2.5 to 10wt.%. However, hardness increased from 56 to 97HRB. In addition, the tensile strength increased with increasing the TiB2 content.