NITROGEN-INDUCED AMORPHIZATION OF TI-ZR POWDERS DURING MECHANICAL ALLOYING

A mixture of elemental powders of Ti and Zr, which exhibit the complete solid solubility, has been mechanically alloyed by a high-energy ball mill, at room temperature, under a controlled nitrogen atmosphere. The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and chemical analysis. Nanocrystalline fcc type c-TiZrN0.9 powders were prepared by MA in 2 MPa of nitrogen gas. On the contrary, amorphous a-TiZrN0.3 alloy powders were synthesized by MA in 0.04 MPa of nitrogen gas.