On the amorphization behavior and hydrogenation performance of high-energy ball-milled Mg2Ni alloys

Amorphous Mg2Ni alloy was prepared by high energy ball-milling starting with polycrystalline Mg2Ni which was prepared with the help of a metallurgy method by using a SPEX 8000D mill. The microstructural and phase structure characterization of the prepared materials was performed via scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The thermal stabilities were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The apparent activation energies were determined by means of the Kissinger method. The first and second crystallization reactions take place at ~ 255 °C and ~ 410 °C, and the corresponding activation energy of crystallization is Ea1 = 276.9 and Ea2 = 382.4 kJ/mol, respectively. At 3 MPa hydrogen pressure and 250 °C, the hydrogen absorption capacities of crystalline, partially and fully amorphous Mg2Ni alloy are 2.0 wt.%, 3.2 wt.% and 3.5 wt.% within 30 min, respectively.