Cryomilling effect on the mechanical alloying behaviour of ferritic oxide dispersion strengthened powder with Y2O3

•Significant particle/grain size refinement of both Y2O3 and Fe-alloy powders by cryomilling.•Mechanisms of fragmentation/dissolution of Y2O3 during cryomilling were suggested.•The effect of cryomilling on residual microstrain was found.•Increased interstitial elements contamination during cryomilling was found.

Cryogenic cooling effect on mechanical alloying of the mixture of Fe–14Cr–3W–0.1Ti and Y2O3 powders was investigated. The powder mixtures were ball milled for 40 h at room-temperature and −150 °C. Cryomilling produced much finer particle/grain size than conventional room-temperature milling. XRD diffraction peak intensity was much lower under cryomilling conditions due to formation of nano-size grains and increased residual microstrain. Absorption amounts of interstitial elements were considerably higher under cryomilling conditions.