Time and composition dependence of mechanical alloying of Fe_1-xSn_x

Mixtures of powders of iron and tin with nominal compositions Fe_1-xSn_x (x=0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30) have been mechanically alloyed under argon atmosphere using a horizontal oscillatory ball mill for different times. It was observed that the time evolution of the system occurs in two main steps. In the first one FeSn₂ forms until all tin is exhausted. In the second one FeSn₂ decomposes and tin diffuses massively into iron to produce a composition modulated bcc solid solution. For x≳0.20, besides the bcc phase, the stationary state contains a tin-based solid solution. © 1996 The American Physical Society.