Mechanochemical synthesis of metastable solid solutions: Phase composition and microstructure evolution

Abstract

The formation of Cu-Sn, Cu-In, Ni-Sn, and Ni-In supersaturated solid solutions 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 microstrains nonuniformly distributed in the initial stages of mechanochemical synthesis. Further mechanical activation makes the microstrain distribution more uniform. The microstructure of the metastable solid solutions is well described by models taking into account the major types of structural imperfections—second-order microstrains and deformation stacking faults.