Synthesis of metal matrix composites and alloys by mechanical alloying: A Review

Mechanical alloying (MA) is one of the most resourceful material synthesis methods. MA includes repeated welding, fracturing and rewelding of powder particles during milling; it leads to uniform distributions of the constituents. In the earlier days MA has been employed to synthesis oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys, chiefly iron-base and nickel-base alloys. Nowadays it is possible to synthesis equilibrium as well as non-equilibrium structures by MA. Products like wires, bars, rods, billets, aluminides, silicides, carbides, oxides and nitrides are being synthesized via MA. MA has been accepted as one of the non-equilibrium materials synthesis methods. Sometimes it is difficult to mix the metals and nonmetal powders through various fabrication techniques, but the above said disadvantage has been overcome by mechanical alloying. From these, Mechanical Alloying has been commented as effective material synthesis technique. This article made an effort to describe the synthesis of metals, alloys, ceramics and their characteristics via mechanical alloying.