Amorphization behaviour of mechanically alloyed Sn-Zn powders

Tin-Zinc alloys are often used as materials for soft solders owing to their,higher strength. compared to tin-lead alloys. They belong to the class of eutectic type of binary alloys in which two metals are completely soluble in liquid state but completely insoluble in the solid state due to positive heat of mixing of tin-zinc binary system. This investigation comprises of the study of amorphous behaviour of Sn-x Zn100-x (x=10,40 and 90) alloy powders synthesized by Mechanical Alloying (MA) of the mixtures of pure tin and zinc powders using high-energy attrition mill at a ball to charge ratio of 20:1 and 400 rpm speed of revolution. The milling was carried out in the controlled atmosphere of argon and with 2% stearic acid as process control agent (PCA). Powder samples were drawn at regular time intervals during the course of attrition milling and analyzed to monitor the progress of amorphization. The status of amorphisation was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Differential Scanning Calonimetry (DSC). The study investigates the feasibility of preparing Sn-Zn powders by MA route.