Phase composition and thermal stability of LaNi5-41%Mg alloy prepared by high energy ball milling

The LaNi5-41%Mg (mass fraction) alloy was prepared by the high energy ball milling, the phase composition and the thermal stability of the alloy were investigated by means of the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results show that, besides small amounts of Mg and Mg2Ni phases, the amorphous La, Mg and Ni can be obtained after ball milling at 280 r/min for 250 h, and the shape of particles is spheroid or sphere. The size of particles is 0.1-15.2*mm. After heat treatment at 763K for 35 d, the as-milled LaNi5-41%Mg alloy is stable and consists of Mg2NiLa, Mg2Ni and Mg17La2 phases with the average grain size of 26.9 nm.