Mechanical alloying of BiSb semiconducting alloys

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing, 1998-06, Vol.248 (1), p.147-152
• Main Authors: Martin-Lopez, R, Lenoir, B, Devaux, X, Dauscher, A, Scherrer, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bi–Sb alloys; Chemistry; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Elements and non-metal compounds (oxides, hydroxides, hydrides, sulfides, carbides, ...); Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic chemistry and origins of life; Materials science; Materials synthesis; materials processing; Mechanical alloying; Milling parameters; Physics; Powder processing: powder metallurgy, compaction, sintering, mechanical alloying, and granulation; Preparations and properties
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/S0921-5093(98)00495-X

Polycrystalline Bi 100− x Sb x ( x=7, 10, 12, 15, 22) semiconducting alloys were synthesized by mechanical alloying in order to achieve performant homogeneous thermoelectric materials. The influence of the milling parameters on the final homogeneity and morphology of the powders, such as ball-to-powder weight ratios (BPR=10:1, 40:1, 92:1) and balls sizes (diameters of 30 and 20 mm), was investigated. Powder samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The results show that the samples obtained with the 10:1 BPR and four balls of 30 mm in diameter present the best homogeneity whatever the alloy composition.