Mechanical activation of metallic powders in planetary ball mills: Multi-scale modeling and experimental observation

Abstract

Ball motion and microstructure formation in the mixtures of Al with metals (Ti, Ni) during high-energy planetary ball milling are studied by means of high-speed video recording, scanning electron microscopy and computer modeling, including molecular dynamics simulation. Possibility of production reactive composite powders with rounded particles for using in selective laser melting techniques has been demonstrated.