Evolution of short- and long range order during the milling of AlFe

The intermetallic compound ALFe in its ordered B2 phase has been ground under Ar in a ball-milling device. Phase evolution under mechanical work has been examined as a function of time of milling by X-ray diffraction, transmission Mossbauer spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Short- and long range disorder was observed. The evolution of the long range order parameter and of the local atomic configurations at Fe sites with increasing milling time up to the completion of the solid state reaction is analyzed. Kinetic analysis of the reordering and recrystallization has been performed under continuous heating and isothermal calorimetric regimes. Modelling of these processes is presented as well as the estimated values of both the enthalpy and the activation energy of the reordering process. Results are compared with preceding information on related systems.