Characterization of Cu-Zn Alloy Nanocrystalline Powders Prepared by Wire Electrical Explosion

Nanocrystalline powders of Cu-Zn alloy in size ranging from 10 to 140 nm was prepared from α-Cu-Zn alloy wire containing 39.8 at.% Zn by an electrical explosion method. The particles are identified from x-ray diffraction as a mixture of the α, β, γ, and e phases of Cu-Zn alloy. Most of the particles are hexagonal in shape, with only a small part being spherical and cubic. The composition of Zn in the explosion products varied from 6.9 to 45.2 at.% in different particles as determined by energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer. A possible mechanism for the formation of the alloy nanocrystalline powders is proposed, in which a redistribution process occurred caused by strong collision and diffusion between the two kinds of atoms during the powder formation.