Production of intermetallic compound powders by a mechanochemical approach: solid–liquid reaction ball milling

Abstract: A novel mechanochemical approach, known as solid–liquid reaction ball milling, was developed in order to prepare solid state intermetallic compound powders by the reaction of the milling mediums with a liquid state metal over a particular temperature range. Numerous ultrafine elevated temperature intermetallic compound powders were obtained by this newly developed process. In contrast to the conventional mechanical milling technique, nanometer-sized elevated temperature intermetallic powders and nearly pure intermetallic phases can be formed directly at relatively low temperatures. This short review will introduce the main results and reaction mechanism for this mechanochemical approach as well as its advantages and potential applications.