Time and composition dependence of mechanical alloying of Fe1-xSnx.

Abstract

Mixtures of powders of iron and tin with nominal compositions ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sn}}_{\mathit{x}}$ (x=0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30) have been mechanically alloyed under argon atmosphere using a horizontal oscillatory ball mill for different times. It was observed that the time evolution of the system occurs in two main steps. In the first one ${\mathrm{FeSn}}_{2}$ forms until all tin is exhausted. In the second one ${\mathrm{FeSn}}_{2}$ decomposes and tin diffuses massively into iron to produce a composition modulated bcc solid solution. For x\ensuremath{\gtrsim}0.20, besides the bcc phase, the stationary state contains a tin-based solid solution. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.