Mechanistic inferences on the synthesis of Co50Fe50 solid solution by mechanical alloying

An equiatomic Co-Fe solid solution was synthesized by mechanical processing. A dissolution process of Co in Fe was observed. Its kinetic characterization permitted a reliable estimate of the number of Co atoms dissolved in collision events. This number was then compared with the corresponding quantity observed in Co-Fe diffusion couples under thermal activation conditions. The data support a mechanistic hypothesis for mechanochemical transformations alternative to the ones based on thermal diffusion.