Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Two unconventional methods of cold-work: (a) controlled mechanical (ball) milling (under shear conditions), and (b) shock-wave (explosive) loading at ˜5 GPa shock pressure were applied to two cubic intermetallics: (a) Mn-stabilized cubic (L12) titanium trialuminide (AI3Ti(Mn)) and (b) B2 iron aluminide (FeAl). The long-range order (LRO) parameter S of both intermetallics decreases and their lattice constants increase with increasing milling time providing strong evidence that the mechanical milling disorder is due to antisite-atom pairs. A nanocrystalline structure is being formed in both intermetallics upon milling. A shock-wave loading gives rise to only a partial disorder of both A13Ti(Mn) and FeAl but their lattice constants are not affected (no point defects formation). Annealing at 600°C results in the restoration of LRO and lattice constants as well as microstructural evolution in Fe-45A1.