Effect of milling atmosphere on the hydriding properties of a Mg-amorphous Zr0.9Ti0.1(Ni0.57Mn0.28V0.1Co0.05)2.1 composite

The effect of milling atmosphere on the hydriding properties of a Mg-amorphous Zr0.9Ti0.1(Ni0.57Mn0.28V0.1Co0.05)2.1 composite milled with a Spex8000 vibration mill was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, SEM and TEM. The results indicated that, compared with the composite milled under Ar, the composite milled under H2 showed superior hydriding performance. The brittle MgH2, which formed directly during the milling process under H2 with the help of the amorphous phase Zr0.9Ti0.1(Ni0.57Mn0.28V0.1Co0.05)2.1 and the mechanical driving force, resulted in a highly dispersive distribution of the amorphous phase in the Mg matrix and a smaller particle/grain size during the RMA process, which led to a remarkable decrease in the activation energy for hydrogen absorption