Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Cryogenic attritor milling (cryomilling) is used to synthesize nanocrystalline Fe-10wt.%Al powders. Following consolidation in a rigid die at 823 K and heat treatment for 1 hour at 1223 K, an average grain size of 16±7 nm is maintained. This level of thermal stability is shown to exceed that of pure Fe processed under identical conditions. The significant increase in thermal stability is attributed primarily to the presence of nanometer-scale γ-Al2O3 and AIN dispersoids formed during cryomilling and subsequent heat treatment.