Abstract
The competition between the constituent elements of the Cu 0.5 NiAlCoCrFeTiMo alloy system during mechanical alloying was investigated and ranked with their alloying rates in getting alloyed in the mixture. By using XRD analysis, EDS mapping, extended X-ray absorption fine structure technique, and synchrotron radiation diffraction, the alloying sequence for the present alloy system is determined as Al → Cu → Co → Ni → Fe → Ti → Cr → Mo in the order of decreasing alloying rate. The alloying rate is found to correlate best with the melting point of the elements among metallurgical factors. The mechanism for this correlation is explained through the effect of melting point on solid-state diffusion and mechanical disintegration which are critical for the final alloying. This finding is valuable in predicting the alloying sequence of elements, and thus the phase evolution in multi-component alloys during mechanical alloying. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.