Influnce of Milling Time and Ball-to-Powder Ratio of Mechanically Alloyed Fe-35mn-5cu Alloy on Particle Size and Green Density

In this research article, the development of Fe-35Mn-5Cu alloy (bio-degradable) through mechanical alloying was discussed. The two key important parameters in mechanical alloying process, namely, milling time (1 and 10 h) and ball-to-powder ratio, BPR (5:1 and 15:1) were taken as variable input parameters. The other parameter of milling speedwas set at 200 rpm in all the samples. Elemental powders of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were taken and mixed inside the high energy ball mill gravimetrically. The mechanical alloying was carried out under wet milling method in which ethanol was used as a processing control agent. The particle size analysis on ball milled powders were examined using laser light scattering technique. Them the milled powders were compacted (cold-uni axial compaction) at 1100 MPa and green density was measured. The morphology of ball milled powders were also examined using scanning electron microscope. The results revealed that both milling time and BPR were influenced much on particle size reduction and green density of the consolidated samples. A 15:1 BPR with 1 h milled sample has produced around 493.8 nm particle size. However, around 1630 nm particle size was obtained in a 5:1 BPR with 1h milled sample. The more reduction in 15:1 BPR sample was attributed to more energy input in to the materials, sever plastic deformation, and crystallite size refinement. Around 75% theoretical green density wasobtained in 5:1 BPR with 1 h milled sample whereas 66% theoretical green density was observed in 15:1 BPR with 10 h milled sample. The drastic reduction of green density in 15:1 BPR with 10 h sample indicate more strain hardened in the milled powders eventually the mechanical properties can be increased.