Mechanical alloying ( MA ) is one of novel, nonequilibrium materials processing methods. During the last years MA has been successfully applied for synthesis of various materials. Originally developed for producing dispersion -strengthened alloys, this technique has been also used to obtain amorphous alloys, intermetallic compounds, high coercivity permanent magnets, quasicrystal s and nanocrystalline alloys.
The purpose of this work is to study the influence of low energy ball milling on the crystallite size and lattice strain of pure Fe and Fe- based alloys powders.
MA processes of selected Fe -Al and Fe -Ni powder mixtures have been performed applying a conventional, horizontal ball mill. The powders of pure Fe has been subjected to ball milling as well.
X- ray diffraction analysis has been used to determine the crystallite size and lattice strain of the synthesized alloys. Williamson -Hall approach has been applied for this purpose.
In all cases studied, the ball milling process has resulted in the formation of nanocrystalline structures. The average crystallite sizes have proved to be from 5 to 15 nanometers, depending on the alloy composition. The rms strain in the obtained materials has been calculated to be up to 1%.