Abstract
Allotropic hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) ? face-centered-cubic (fcc) transformations were reported in Group IVB elements titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), and hafnium (Hf) subjected to mechanical milling in a high-energy SPEX shaker mill. Although the transformation was observed in powders milled under regular conditions, no such phase transformation was observed when the powders were milled in an ultrahigh purity environment by placing the powder in a milling container under a high-purity argon atmosphere, which was in turn placed in an argon-filled glove box for milling. From a critical analysis of the results, it was concluded that the hcp ? fcc phase transformation was, at least partially, due to pick-up of interstitial impurities by the powder during milling of these powders to the nanocrystalline state.
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