TEHRAN (INIC)- Findings of a new study by Iranian scientists at Isfahan University of Technology revealed a new nanocomposite based on Iron Aluminide with an ordered structure to be used in aerospace, auto and material production, involving high temperatures, industries.

The researchers managed to produce (Fe,Ti)3Al-Al2O3 nanocomposite via mechanical alloying and perform essential characterizations.

"So far, no report has been published on the synthesis of such material in the world. When commercialized, the prepared nanocomposite can be used in aerospace, auto, material production involving high temperatures industries," Mehdi Rafiei, the researcher in chief, said to the News Service of INIC.

Using high energy ball-milling, the researchers succeeded in synthesizing (Fe,Ti)3Al-Al2O3 nanocomposite from powdery mixture of Fe-Al-TiO2.

Samples of such powder were ball milled for different durations and their morphological variations and their structures were investigated and characterized. Also, to study thermal behavior of the prepared powder, annealing operations were conducted at 900 oC which lasted for an hour.

The structural changes of powder particles during mechanical alloying were investigated by X-ray diffractometery. Morphology and microstructure of powder particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy.

It was found that during mechanical alloying Al first reacts with TiO2 leading to the gradual formation of crystalline Ti and amorphous Al2O3 phases.

The detailed information on this research work is available at the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, volume 488, pages 144 to 147, 2009.