Evolution of the phase stability of Ni–Al under low energy ball milling

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights•Structure and microstructure evolution of Ni–Al is analyzed by low energy milling.•Intermediate phases are identified and characterized.•The final phases are different from those obtained by high energy milling.•A compact phase different form the 3R is obtained in the final sample.

Low energy mechanical alloying of Ni–35 at.%Al and Ni–40 at.%Al material was performed and the resulting structures were investigated by XRD and TEM. The final intermetallics observed consist of two phases, NiAl(B2) and Ni3Al while 7R and 3R martensite was observed in post-annealed samples. Different integrated milling times were associated to the intermetallic consolidation and initial blend dissociation.