Abstract
A nanostructured disordered copper–iron–nickel alloy having the (Cu60Fe40)70Ni30 composition was prepared through the mechanical alloying of the elemental powders in a high-energy ball mill under an argon atmosphere. The structural and morphological evolutions during mechanical alloying were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The patterns obtained were analyzed using the MAUD program. The transformation of the phase depended on the alloying time. The final product of the mechanical alloying process was nanocrystalline double-phase FCC-Cu(Fe,Ni) and BCC-Fe(Ni) solid solutions with a mean crystallite size in the range of few nanometers. The dislocation densities were found to be 6×1015m−2, and the strain hardening caused by high-energy mechanical alloying was consistent with the concept of dislocations.
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•This is a complete study about the alloying process of a Cu–Fe–Ni alloy.•Nanocrystalline (13nm) Cu (Fe,Ni) solid solution is formed.•We establish the relations between microstructure and structure defects.•Mechanical alloying affects positively the transition towards the magnetism hardening.