The effect of ball milling on the microstructure of ceramic AlN

Ceramic AlN was ball milled at room temperature. TEM and HREM studies were carried out on the ball-milled AlN particles/grains. AlN particles were plastically deformed by ball milling at room temperature via the generation and motion of dislocations. Four slip systems were observed in the ball-milled AlN particles. Therefore, the deformation behavior of ceramic AlN during the process of ball milling is similar to that of ordinary metals. Ball milling at low temperature induced amorphous nucleation in the surface layer of AlN particle.