Fabrication of alloy nanopowders by the electrical explosion of electrodeposited wires

Electrical wire explosion technique has been successful in the production of various pure metal powders. However, the process has the obvious limitation that alloy and intermetallic powders are difficult to produce due to the unavailability of their thin wire form. In this study, a novel method by which various alloys and compounds can be produced was suggested utilizing electrodeposition and wire explosion process. Al-Cu and Cu-Ni alloy nanopowders were fabricated by the electrical explosion of Cu-deposited Al and Ni wires. Ni-Cu nanopowders were composed of Ni- and Cu-solid solutions. Al-Cu wire explosion produced various phases in the order of Al, Al₂Cu, Al₃Cu₄ as the copper layer became thicker. It is demonstrated that the suggested method could provide means to produce numerous alloys and intermetallic nanopowders.