Some recent developments in mechanical activation and mechanosynthesis

After outlining the general characteristics of high-energy ball-milling, me chanochemical synthesis is argued to be an attractive method for the synthe sis and transformation of materials. Phase transformations induced by milli ng, annealing of mechanically activated iron silicides, mechanically activa ted self-heal sustaining reactions (MASHS), for instance of FeAl, are first discussed. The route, which starts from mechanosynthesized powders to reac h consolidated alumina-( Fe,Ti) composites, yields materials whose original morphologies and some mechanical properties are then described.