Nanocrystalline ZrB2 powders prepared by mechanical alloying

ZrB2 powders were synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) of the mixture of elemental Zr and B powders using WC vial and balls. The effect of the initial composition, the milling time on MA and the phase changes during MA were investigated. Well-crystallized ZrB2 powder with micrometer size was received by directly ball milling the Zr/B powder mixtures. Nanocrystalline ZrB2 powders were received by adding ZrB2 powder into the Zr/B powder mixture as a diluent to exhibit the ignition of the raw powders. The phase transformation and the morphology of the powders were characterized by XRD analysis and SEM and TEM observation.