Elaboration of the Cu3Si compound using a mechanically activated annealingprocess

The mechanically activated annealing process were used to produce Cu3Si com pound. This process results from the combinaison of two steps, the first is a mechanical activation of the 3Cu + Si powders mixture, the second consis ts of the annealing of as-milled powders. Based on X-ray diffraction experi ment, scanning electron microscopy, the as-milled powders and M2AP end-prod ucts were characterized. Various process controlling parameters such as mec hanical activation conditions were studied. In the same time, a sutdy of th e reactivity ofCu(3)Si towards CuCl were performed to compare the M2AP end- products behavior with that of the Cu3Si reference powder. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.