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 H-2 showed superior hydriding performance. The brittle MgH2, which formed directly during the milling process under H-2 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. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.