| Mechanical alloying (MA) is a powder metallurgy processing technique that involves repeated cold welding, fracturing and rewelding of powder particles in a high-energy ball mill. Started in 1960 to produce oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) nickel-based superalloys to obtain high strength both at room and elevated temperatures, this technique is now widely used to synthesize a variety of non-equilibrium alloys including solid solutions, intermetallics, and glassy alloys. Apart from the ODS alloys, the products of MA are now finding ever increasing and newer applications. The present article briefly summarizes the past achievements of MA followed by a discussion of the present activities. Three specific topics have been covered nanocomposites, metallic glasses, and use of MA powder particles in metal combustion. The article concludes with an indication of the topics that need special attention in the near future. |
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