Powder Metallurgy Laboratory

Fe70Zr30 after mechanical alloying

The powder metallurgy laboratory is equipped for processing and general characterization of powder materials. Mechanical alloying is used to process a variety of materials including nanocrystalline materials, intermetallic compounds, metal-intermetallic composites, and magnetic materials. The laboratory is equipped with an inert gas glovebox for handling the powders; three SPEX 800 mills for producing powders in quantities of several grams; and a megaport mill for producing powders in quatities of several pounds. A benchtop microhardness tester and a differential thermal analysis system with capabilities to 1600 C are available for characterizing the powder materials.

Current research projects include the study of grain growth in nanocrystalline copper and copper alloys using an in-situ X-ray diffraction technique, study of the high temperature structural stability of nanophase Cu-Nb-Cr and Cu-Fe-Zr alloys for high-temperature, high conductivity applications and characterization of nanocrystalline SmCo5, Cu-Fe and Cu-ZrO2 magnetic materials.