Preparation of nanostructured high-temperature TZM alloy by mechanical alloying and sintering

Mechanical milling proceeded by sintering was used to synthesize nanostructured temperature-resistant TZM alloy. Milling under Ar for different times (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 h) and sintering at 1500, 1600 and 1700 °C for 30, 45, 60 and 90 min resulted in increasing of low-energy grain boundaries (LEGBs) and dispersion of TiC and ZrC with a size of ~ 65 nm in the matrix near LEGBs. Morphology and grain size of the products were determined from scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, almost precisely. Optimum density of nanostructured TZM alloy ~ 9.95 ± 0.01 g/cm3 was achieved by sintering at 1700 °C for 90 min.