X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Powder Materials Based on Mechanochemically Activated Chips D-16 and Added Nickel Powder
Regularities of grinding were studied in the paper. The authors carried out an X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis of powder materials based on a mechanochemically activated charge of D-16 chips and added nickel powder. The parameters of grinding D-16 aluminum chips have been optimized for recycling lathe waste. Differential curves of the powder particle size distribution were built after the mechanochemical activation in a saturated aqueous solution of boric acid and manual processing in a mortar. A phase analysis of the charge material showed the absence of aluminum oxides due to the cladding of powder particles with boron oxide during grinding and the formation of complex oxides (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>)<sub>1.33</sub> during a short-time heating for hot stamping. An increase in the half-width of the diffraction profile of a hot-deformed powder material, associated with an increase in the number of the structural defects during deformation, indicates its “hot” work-hardening. The studies carried out in air and helium atmosphere by the simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) methods revealed an exothermic reaction and the possible formation of intermetallic compounds in the activated chip powder. An X-ray spectral microanalysis of a hot-deformed powder material produced by using the mechanochemically activated charge revealed three main areas: light, gray, and dark ones. The light area shows the possibility of the formation of intermetallic compounds (Al<sub>3</sub>Ni<sub>2</sub>)<sub>0.4</sub> with a small admixture of copper and iron, as well as the absence of oxygen. The gray area is unoxidized aluminum with minor copper impurities. Thus, it was shown that the agglomerates consist of unoxidized aluminum particles and an intermetallic network between them. The dark area represents oxidized particles of aluminum and nickel and impurities of magnesium, iron and copper.