Mechanochemical synthesis of metastable solid solutions: Phase compositionand microstructure evolution

The formation of Cu-Sn, Cu-In, Ni-Sn, and Ni-In supersaturated solid soluti ons during mechanochemical synthesis was studied. It was found that, in the process of synthesis, intermetallic compounds were formed first. Electron- microscopic examination revealed the presence of stacking faults and micros trains nonuniformly distributed in the initial stages of mechanochemical sy nthesis. Further mechanical activation makes the microstrain distribution m ore uniform. The microstructure of the metastable solid solutions is well d escribed by models taking into account the major types of structural imperf ections-second-order microstrains and deformation stacking faults.