Mechanical spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements were employed to
investigate the thermally induced structural evolution of nanocrystalline
iron, prepared by,mechanical attrition through different ball milling equip
ment in different structural states. The evolution of the elastic modulus,
grain size and microstrain as a function of temperature and after selected
isothermal treatments indicates that the rearrangement of structural config
uration at the interfaces may stabilise the nanostructure against grain gro
wth. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.