Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline FeAl obtained by mechanical alloying and cold consolidation

In the present study high energy mechanical milling followed by cold temperature pressing consolidation has been used to obtain bulk nanocrystalline FeAl alloy. Fully dense disks with homogenous microstructure were obtained and bulk material show grain size of 40 nm. Thermal stability of the bulk material is studied by XRD and DSC techniques. Subsequent annealing at a temperature up to 480 °C for 2 h of the consolidated samples enabled supersaturated Fe(Al) solid solution to precipitate out fine metastable Al₅Fe₂, Al₁₃Fe₄ and Fe₃Al intermetallic phases. Low temperature annealing is responsible for the relaxation of the disordered structure by removing defects initially introduced by severe plastic deformation. Microhardness shows an increase with grain size reduction, as expected from Hall-Petch relationship at least down to a grain size of 74 nm, then a decrease at smallest grain sizes. This could be an indication of some softening for finest nanocrystallites. The peak hardening for the bulk nanocrystalline FeAl is detected after isochronal ageing at 480 °C.