Microstructural characterization of nanocrystalline chromium carbides synthesized by high energy ball milling

Nanostructure chromium carbides were fabricated by mechanical alloying in a Fritsch planetary ball mill. The morphological changes and the effect of milling time and elementary powder compositions on final products were investigated by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that although at early stages of milling the solid solutions were formed, but the final products for prolonged milling times were intermetallic compounds. Also crystallite size of chromium carbides was found to be about 21 nm after 12 h of milling.