Abstract
Ag50Cu50 alloys are prepared by high energy ball milling at different controlled temperatures, 85 K, 315 K and 453 K, with milling times long enough to reach steady-state. Atom probe field ion microscopy (APFIM) is used to characterize the atomic mixing forced by low temperature milling and to study the nanocomposite materials stabilized by elevated temperature milling. A new method is devised that makes it possible to prepare sharp tips from ball-milled powders. Statistical analysis of the APFIM composition profiles is used to determine the degree of mixing as a function of the length scale. These results are compared with the ones obtained from kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Cryo-milling results in nearly random mixing of copper and silver, whereas the mixing achieved by milling at 315 K is calculated to be around 70%. 453 K milling results in the decomposition into copper-rich and silver-rich regions at a scale of ≈25 nm.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 453-461 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Acta Materialia |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 8 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Ceramics and Composites
- Polymers and Plastics
- Metals and Alloys