SYNTHESIS OF A NANOCRYSTALLINE W-25 WT.PERCENT RE ALLOY BY MECHANICALALLOYING

The formation of a nanocrystalline tungsten-rhenium solid solution by mechanical alloying in a SPEX mill using tungsten carbide vial and bal ls was investigated. The milling process was monitored by X-ray diffra ction and electron microscopy techniques. It was shown that mechanical alloying of a W-25 wt.% Re powder mixture resulted in the formation o f a W-Re solid solution with a very small volume fraction of the a pha se. The grain size of the solid solution phase is in the nanometer ran ge. Sintering of the mechanically alloyed powder resulted in a dense a nd high-purity product. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights rese rved.