Size-Dependent Melting Behaviour of Nanometre-Sized Pb Particles Studied by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Nanometre-sized (hereafter nano-) Pb particles embedded in an Al matrix are prepared by ball milling. It is found that the size of nano-Pb particles was decreased with increasing milling time. The melting behaviour of nano-Pb particles embedded in the Al matrix is studied by means of dynamic mechanical analysis, and a single internal friction peak in the vicinity of Pb melting temperature is observed. The onset temperature of the peak moves to lower temperature with the decrease of particles size and the internal friction peak height is increased, which indicates a size-dependent melting behaviour of nano-Pb particles. It is suggested that the size-dependent melting behaviour is associated with surface melting.