Mechanical alloying: a critical review

Mechanical alloying (MA) is a powder process that consists of repeated cold welding, fracturing, and rewelding particles in high-energy ball mill. This capable synthesizing different types non-equilibrium phases including supersaturated solid solutions, nanocrystalline materials, metallic glasses, high-entropy alloys, several others. MA'd materials have found many applications. The present article critically reviews recent developments emerging areas nanostructured nanocomposites, alloys synthesized from immiscible elements, heterostructured materials. Current challenges future directions research the general area MA are also indicated.