Production of a nanocrystalline Ni3Al-based alloy using mechanical alloying

A new Ni3Al-based alloy has been successfully made via densification of mechanically alloyed powders with nominal compositions of Ni-8.14Al-7.83Cr-1.45Mo-0.01B (wt%). Mechanical alloying (MA) was carried out in a planetary ball mill under different conditions. The effect of MA on the structure of elemental powders was investigated. A Ni-based solid solution was produced after 10 h of milling that transformed to a disordered Ni3Al intermetallic compound with nanocrystalline structure on further milling. The rate of this transformation depended on milling variables such as mill rotation speed and milling media. The yield strength of produced alloy increased with increasing temperature up to 600 °C beyond which it decreased.