Mechanical properties of nanocrystalline Fe–Pb and Fe–Al2O3

Fe, Fe–Al2O3, and Fe–Pb nanocrystalline alloys were prepared using ball milling. Fe–Al2O3 forms a nanocomposite and rule-of-mixtures hardening occurs with an additional contribution due to grain size reduction during milling. Fe–Pb forms a non-equilibrium solid solution where hardening appears to be modulated by Pb clustering and segregation to grain boundaries.