Mechanical alloying

Originally developed to produce oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) nickel- and iron-base superalloys for applications in the aerospace industry,[1] MA has now been shown to be capable of synthesizing a variety of equilibrium and non-equilibrium alloy phases starting from blended elemental or pre-alloyed powders.

A hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process is then applied to simultaneously compress and sinter the powder.

A final heat treatment stage helps remove existing internal stresses produced during any cold compaction[broken anchor] which may have been used.

The force of the impact plastically deforms the powder particles, leading to work hardening and fracture.

With continued deformation particles become work hardened, and fracture by a fatigue failure mechanism and/or by the fragmentation of fragile flakes.