REU/RET Project

Jessica Jansen
University: University of Florida
Mentor in UCF: Dr. C. Suryanarayana - Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

Nanocrystal Formation in Ball Milled Materials

Ball milling is a common technique used to produce nanocrystalline materials. By varying specific parameters of the process such as the ball-to-powder weight ratio, the minimum grain size of the material can be altered. Increasing the ratio of steel balls increases the kinetic energy of the system resulting in higher compressive forces between the balls. Other factors also contribute to the minimum attainable grain size such as the melting point and annealed hardness of the material. An inverse relationship exists between the minimum grain size and these material characteristics. This trend is exhibited very strongly by fcc metals and only slightly by bcc and hcp metals.