Analysis of the Change in Microstructures of Nano Copper Powders During the Hydrogen Reduction using X-ray Diffraction Patterns and Transmission Electron Microscope, and the Mechanical Property of Compacted Powders

In this study, nano-scale copper powders were reduction treated in a hydrogen atmosphere at the relatively high temperature of $350^{\circ}C$ in order to eliminate surface oxide layers, which are the main obstacles for fabricating a nano/ultrafine grained bulk parts from the nano-scale powders. The changes in composition and microstructure before and after the hydrogen reduction treatment were evaluated by analyzing X-ray diffraction (XRD) line profile patterns using the convolutional multiple whole profile (CMWP) procedure. In order to confirm the result from the XRD line profile analysis, transmitted electron microscope observations were performed on the specimen of the hydrogen reduction treated powders fabricated using a focused ion beam process. A quasi-statically compacted specimen from the nano-scale powders was produced and Vickers micro-hardness was measured to verify the potential of the powders as the basis for a bulk nano/ultrafine grained material. Although the bonding between particles and the growth in size of the particles occurred, crystallites retained their nano-scale size evaluated using the XRD results. The hardness results demonstrate the usefulness of the powders for a nano/ultrafine grained material, once a good consolidation of powders is achieved.

X-선 회절 패턴 측정과 투과 전자 현미경을 이용한 구리 나노분말의 수소 환원 처리 시 발생하는 미세조직 변화 및 치밀화 시편의 물성 분석