Structural investigations of Al-Fe-Ti alloys formed by mechanical alloying under various conditions.

There is increasing interest in the synthesis of aluminium-based alloys by mechanical alloying (MA). These materials possess a high specific strength and in high temperature applications, exhibit attractive mechanical properties. The aim of this work was to study the structural and phase transformations that take place during mechanical alloying of the ternary Al50Fe25Ti25 alloy in a high energy planetary ball mill. Two experiments were performed: one with an addition of ethanol and the other without any additional agent. The nanocrystalline composite powder, consisting of titanium carbide distributed in the Fe(Al) matrix was the final product of the process performed with the addition of ethanol. After milling without any agent an amorphous phase was observed to form. When this phase was then subjected to heating in a calorimeter the ternary phase tau2(Al2FeTi) and Fe(Al, Ti) solid solution appeared.