High-energy milling of nonstoichiometric carbides: Effect of nonstoichiometry on particle size of nanopowders

The dependence between the particle size of milled nanocrystalline powders and the composition of nonstoichiometric compounds within their homogeneity intervals is considered in the framework of the high-energy milling model. It is shown that the effect of nonstoichiometry on the particle size manifests itself in the concentration dependences of the main characteristics (crystal structure parameters, energy of interatomic bonds, elastic and strength properties) of milled nonstoichiometric compounds. Model dependences of the particle size D of nanopowders on the energy of milling proportional to the duration of milling t and on the composition y of nonstoichiometric cubic carbides NbCy, TiCy, and VCy are calculated. The results of these model calculations are compared with the experimental data on NbC0.93 and VC0.875 milling. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.