Synthesis of TiB2 nanocrystalline powder by mechanical alloying

TiB2 nanocrystalline powder was synthesized by mechanical alloying of Ti-67B elemental powder. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) were used to study the structural evolution of the powder during ball milling. The effects of heat treatment on the structural evolution and thermal stability of the mechanically alloyed(MAed) Ti-67B powder were also discussed. During ball milling the Ti-67B powder, a solid solution of B in Ti, Ti(B) is firstly formed. When the powder is milled for 10 h, the amorphous transition of Ti(B) from the crystalline to the amorphous phase occurs. When the powder is milled for 20 h, nanocrystalline TiB2 is formed from the amorphous Ti(B). When the powder is milled for 60 h, only TiB2 is detected with grain size of 10 nm. The formation of TiB2 nanocrystalline is controlled by the gradual diffusion reaction mechanism. During heat-treatment of the MAed Ti-67B powder, the structural changes of TiB2, including grain growth and lattice ordering degree increasing may occur.