Synthesis of the Ti6Si2B compound by mechanical alloying

The present work reports on the synthesis of Ti6Si2B powders by mechanical alloying from elemental Ti-22.2 at.%Si-11.1 at.%B powder mixtures. The milled powders were then heat-treated at 1100 °C for 4 h in order to attain the equilibrium microstructure. Samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microanalysis via EDS/WDS. Results indicated that the silicon and boron atoms were dissolved into the Ti lattice to form a supersaturated solid solution in Ti-22.2Si-11.1B powders milled for 30 h. It was noticed the formation of an amorphous phase in Ti-22.2Si-11.1B powders milled for 100 and 200 h. Thermal analysis indicated the presence of an intense exothermic peak located close to 550 °C during heating of mechanically alloyed Ti-22.2Si-11.1B powders, which was associated to the Ti6Si2B formation. A large amount of Ti6Si2B was formed in Ti-22.2Si-11.1B powders after heating at 1100 °C for 4 h.