Interpretation of X-ray peak profile analysis and HRTEM morphology of mechanochemical synthesized Al-Zr-x Vol.% RE (CeO2+Y2O3) nanocomposites powders: A comparative study

In this work, we report on the comparative study of the crystallite size and lattice strain of mechanochemically synthesized rare earth (RE) oxide-dispersed Al-Zr alloy. Structural properties and phases of the developed nanocomposites are predominantly dependent on the milling conditions and the addition of RE oxides. Based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, the structural properties, such as crystallite size and lattice strain, were calculated for different peak broadening models, such as Scherrer, Williamson-Hall (W-H), and Size-Strain Plot (SSP). The crystallite size and lattice strain of the nanocomposite were estimated using various XRD peak broadening models, and the results were found to align with the morphological observations obtained from TEM analysis. The crystallite size estimated using the W-H model is consistent with the expected dimensions derived from the TEM imaging of the nanocomposite. In addition, the diffusion of the RE oxides was also investigated for the precipitate and its phase formation. Hence, the present research work could be a valuable reference for determining the precise structural characteristics of the developed nanocomposites that can be used effectively in structural applications.