Synthesis of Nanostructure TiAl (γ) Intermetallic Compound by Mechanical Alloying and Study of the Effective Parameters on production Efficiency

Mechanical alloying is a suitable method for producing nanostructure TiAl intermetallic compounds. In this research, powder mixtures of Ti and Al with equal at. Pct were mechanically alloyed. The effect of various factors, such as process control agent, speed of bowl rotation and ball-to-powder weight ratio, on production efficiency was studied and the optimum condition to synthesis of the alloy was determined. X-ray diffractometry from as-milled powders revealed that at the early stages of milling, the powder mixtures were transformed to a metastable solid solution phase. These were gradually transformed to an amorphous and homogenous phase during milling time. Changes in grain size and lattice strain during alloying at various conditions were measured. Final productions of the mechanical alloying process were annealed and nanostructure TiAl (γ) intermetallic compound with high purity was produced.