Influence of ball-milling and annealing conditions on nanocluster characteristics in oxide dispersion strengthened steels

The characteristics of strengthening nanoclusters (NCs) have a major influence on the mechanical properties of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels. To determine how to control NC formation, ODS powders are synthesized in different ball-milling and annealing conditions, then characterized by electron probe micro-analysis and small angle neutron scattering. During ball-milling, reactants are dissolved into the metallic matrix until a Ti, Y and O solid solution is formed and then NC nucleation begins. Nucleation is greatly enhanced during the first minutes of annealing at 800 °C without any coarsening afterwards. The intensity and temperature of ball-milling influence this mechanism and thus the characteristics of the formed NC, whereas the nature of reactants, for a given composition, has no impact on NC size and volume fraction. Consequently, to promote the formation of fine and dense dispersion of NC, two main modifications to the usual process are proposed: (i) perform a long and/or intense ball-milling with a limited overheating, and (ii) anneal the as-milled powder at 800 °C before performing the thermo-mechanical treatment.