Copper Bronze Powder Surface Studied by XPS and HR SEM

Abstract The state of the powder surface represents one of the main interests in the whole cycle of components’ production using powder metallurgy (PM) route. Large specific surface area of the powder in combination with often alloying with oxygen sensitive elements results in oxidation of the powder surface in most of the cases. The information about surface chemistry of the powder is of vital importance for further consolidation and sintering steps. Surface sensitive analytical techniques – X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (HR SEM+EDX) were used for surface chemical analysis of the 60Cu-40Sn bronze powder. Determination of the compositional profiles and estimation of the surface oxide layer thickness was done by altering of ion etching and XPS analysis. The results showed tin oxide enrichment and presence of copper hydroxide on the surface of the powder particles. The impurities of P, Zn and Ca were also detected on the top surface of the powder in trace amounts.