LEBM and CRYO milling composite powder production

Inside the wide field of thermal spray, the possibility to spray ceramic nano-particles by Cold Gas Spray represents an interesting and innovative trend. In this work, titanium dioxide  nanoparticles have been mixed with a polymer in order to obtain tailor-made cer-pol nanocomposite powders. Two different mixing techniques have been used: Low Energy Ball Milling LEBM and Cryo Milling CM. Samples’ composition was not varied, while milling time was changed. The objective was to investigate the mechanical anchoring and union of  around the bigger polymeric particles. The effect of the ceramic particles on the structure and morphology of the polymer, as well as the influence of the temperature of the different combining processes were also studied. The obtained powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy SEM, optical microscopy OM, X-ray diffraction XRD and laser scattering LS. Moreover, thermal characteristics of the polymer were studied using differential scanning calorimetry DSC.