Synthesis of a nanocrystalline W–25 wt.% Re alloy by mechanical alloying

The formation of a nanocrystalline tungsten–rhenium solid solution by mechanical alloying in a SPEX mill using tungsten carbide vial and balls was investigated. The milling process was monitored by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques. It was shown that mechanical alloying of a W–25 wt.% Re powder mixture resulted in the formation of a W–Re solid solution with a very small volume fraction of the σ phase. The grain size of the solid solution phase is in the nanometer range. Sintering of the mechanically alloyed powder resulted in a dense and high-purity product.