Sintering and mechanical properties of mechanically alloyed Fe-Al-(B) nanostructures

Mechanical properties of Fe-50Al, Fe-49.5Al-1B, and Fe-47.5Al-5B (at.%) nanostructures prepared by mechanical alloying and subsequent sintering were evaluated. Sintering developed ordered Fe-Al-(B) intermetallic nanostructures, via a transformation from disordered solid solutions developed by mechanical alloying. The samples containing more boron showed higher microhardness and yield stress. By increasing the sintering temperature, the microhardness of pore-free zones of the nanostructured specimens decreased. However, the sintering temperature had no meaningful effect on the compressive yield stress. In addition, the fracture strain of the sintered materials increased by progression of sintering. The samples containing 1 at.% B showed more strain to fracture compared to the B-free and 5 at.% B samples.