Some recent developments in mechanical activation and mechanosynthesis

Abstract

After outlining the general characteristics of high-energy ball-milling, mechanochemical synthesis is argued to be an attractive method for the synthesis and transformation of materials. Phase transformations induced by milling, annealing of mechanically activated iron silicides, mechanically activated self-heat sustaining reactions (MASHS), for instance of FeAl, are first discussed. The route, which starts from mechanosynthesized powders to reach consolidated alumina-(Fe,Ti) composites, yields materials whose original morphologies and some mechanical properties are then described.