Simulation of Composite Particle Growth in Dispersion and Compounding Process of Alloy Particle and Ceramic Powder

In this paper, a compounding process in which fine WC powder was dispersed in particulate Ag-Ni alloy using a high-speed elliptical-rotor-type mill was investigated. In the process, the growth of the composite particle was observed as the processing time proceeds. A model for the growth phenomenon of the particle was constructed by means of theory of powder grinding using ball mill and dynamics of the plastic deformation of metal particle. In the model the probability that the composite particle grew was adopted. It was expressed as the product of the probability that the particle was caught between a pair of media (zirconia beads), that it occurred the plastic deformation and the number of the rotor caught them, which included the experimental conditions as parameters. Temporal change in size distribution of the composite particles has been calculated using this method. Comparing calculated value with experimental data of particle median diameter, they were in good agreement. Consequently, it has been indicated that the model is valid and accurate estimation and control of particle size were possible.