Nanophase formation activated by mechanical alloying

Based on X - ray diffraction pattern characterizations, scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations, Energy Dispersive X - Ray (EDX) chemical analyses, the nanocrystalline (Fe, Mo) disilicide phase formations induced by the Mechanically Activated Annealing process (the M2A process) - have been investigated. The effective parameters of such a low temperature powder processing method combining short duration mechanical alloying (leading to the nanoscale 3-D polyinterfaces of the elemental components) and LT isothermal annealing (leading to the solid - state reaction and to the phase formation), i.e. shock energy and frequency as well as the annealing temperature have been investigated.