Nanocrystalline eutectic Al–Si alloy produced by cryomilling

A nanocrystalline Al–Si eutectic alloy was produced by mechanical attrition under cryogenic conditions. The resulting alloy was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and thermal heat treatments. The powder was milled for 4 h when the grain size reached 46 nm according to X-ray diffraction and 38 nm according to transmission electron microscopy examinations. An increase in solubility limit was achieved and was determined by measurements of the lattice parameter after milling, and quantified using Vegard's law. The solubility reached after 4 h of milling time was 1.72 at.% of silicon in solid solution at room temperature.