On the formation of a mixed carbide (MgNi3Cx) during production of nanocrystalline Mg2Ni by mechanical alloying

MgNi3Cx, was produced by mechanical alloying of elemental Mg-Ni powder mixtures under certain milling conditions. The carbide phase resulted from the mechanochemical reaction between the elemental mixture and methanol added as a process control agent. The MgNi3Cx phase was stable during subsequent hydriding experiments at temperatures up to 400 °C.