• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2013

We have applied mechanical alloying (MA) to produce Heusler $Fe_2VAl$ thermoelectric alloy using a mixture of elemental $Fe_{50}V_{25}Al_{25}$ powders. An optimal milling and heat treatment conditions to obtain the single phase of Fe2VAl compound with fine microstructure were investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement. The $Fe_{50}V_{25}Al_{25}$ MA sample ball-milled for 60 hours exhibits a bcc ${\alpha}$-(Fe,V,Al) solid solution. Single phase of Heusler $Fe_2VAl$ compound can be obtained by MA of $Fe_{50}V_{25}Al_{25}$ mixture for 60 hours and subsequently heated up to $700^{\circ}C$. Sintering of the MA powders was performed in a spark plasma sintering (SPS) machine using graphite dies at $900{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$ under 60 MPa. The Vickers hardness of bulk sample sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ was high value of Hv 870. All compact bodies have a high relative density above 90 % with metallic glare on the surface.