THE EFFECT OF AL2O3 ADDITION ON THE MILLING BEHAVIOR OF NIAL POWDER

The milling behavior of nickel aluminide, NiAl, powder in the presence of a fine Al2O3 powder was investigated in the present study. The mil ling was carried out in an attrition mill. The size and shape of NiAl particles were not changed after milling while only NiAl powder was mi lled. When fine Al2O3 powder was added to the NiAl powder, the Al2O3 p articles attached to the surface of NiAl particles during milling. As a consequence, the size of NiAl particles was reduced after milling. T he shape of NiAl particles also changed. The presence of fine Al2O3 pa rticles enhanced the milling efficiency. The Al2O3 particles on the su rface of NiAl powder can be removed by washing repeatedly in an ultras onic bath.