PRODUCTION OF AL2O3 DISPERSION STRENGTHENED COPPER ALLOY POWDER

PURPOSE:To produce alloy powder which is uniformly dispersed with fine Al2O3 particles in a copper base and has excellent sinterability by coating an Al- alkoxide on copper powder, subjecting the powder to a mechanical alloying treatment then to a heating treatment in a reducing atmosphere. CONSTITUTION:1-30% Al-alkoxide is coated by using a suitable solvent to 100pts.wt. copper powder. The powder is subjected to the mechanical alloying treatment in the atmosphere contg. moisture after drying to form the hydrolyzate of the Al-alkoxide and at the same time to disperse the particles formed in the copper base. The powder is then subjected to the heating treatment at the m.p. of copper or below in the reducing atmosphere of hydrogen, etc. The hydrolyzate of the Al-alkoxide is converted to Al2O3 by such treatment, by which the particles of the Al2O3 are uniformly dispersed into the copper base. The dispersion strengthened copper alloy powder obtd. by the above-mentioned method is strengthened in the base and has the excellent sinterability.