THE MECHANISM OF MECHANICAL ALLOYING OF MOSI2

An incubation time exists for the formation of MoSi2 by mechanical all oying (MA). For the particular milling conditions employed, the bulk o f MoSi2 formation occurs between 3 h and 12 min and 3 h and 13 min. Th is abrupt formation of MoSi2 during MA suggests that the reaction occu rs by a form of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), whe n a critical amount of stored energy (in the form of interfacial energ y and cold work) is introduced by MA, and increases the adiabatic reac tion temperature sufficiently to make the reaction self-sustaining.