Influence of high-energy ball-milling duration on Nb-Al powder mixture microhardness

Abstract

The influence of high-energy ball milling duration on the microhardness values of the precursors from the Nb–Al powder mixture is studied. The main stages of microhardness increase, characterized by the specificity of its values change relative to the HEBM duration, are identified. As the microhardness values increase, an increase in the spread of its values is observed, which indicates the heterogeneity of the structural-phase state. Structural investigation methods have established that after 3.5 min HEBM an ordered AlNb₂ compound is formed, the volume fraction of which is about 4%. It is assumed that the presence of particles of a strong ordered phase makes the main contribution to the strengthening of the powder mixture precursor.