Microstructural evolution of 304 stainless steel during mechanical milling

The microstructural development in 304 stainless steel powder during mechanical milling has been investigated. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and saturation magnetisation measurements show that a strain-induced martensitic transformation occurs during milling. Measurements of the saturation magnetisation have been used to study the effect of collision energy on transformation kinetics and average particle strain. The results illustrate the important effect of collision energy on microstructural evolution during milling.