Precipitation, melting and solidification of embedded Pb nanoparticles in mechanically milled Al–10 wt.% Pb powders

Al–10 wt.% Pb powders were prepared by using high energy mechanical milling. The powders were analysed by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) with multiple heating–cooling cycles to study the precipitation, melting and solidification of the embedded Pb nanoparticles. It was found that supersaturated Al(Pb) solid solution formed during high energy mechanical milling even though the heat of mixing between Al and Pb is as large as 50 kJ/mol. The precipitation of the Pb particles occurs at temperatures in the range of 325–380 °C. A large melting point depression of the Pb nanoparticles was observed, in agreement with previous study. Attempt was made to achieve superheating of the Pb particle melting during the second heating, but was not successful.