Cryomilling

Cryomilling is a variation of mechanical milling, in which metallic powders are milled in a cryogen (usually liquid nitrogen) slurry or at a cryogenic temperature under processing parameters, so a nanostructured microstructure is attained. Cryomilling takes advantage of both the cryogenic temperatures and conventional mechanical milling. The extremely low milling temperature suppresses recovery and recrystallization and leads to finer grain structures and more rapid grain refinement.

Cryomilling also comes under a number of different names, such as Cryogenic grinding and Freezer milling. A number of manufacturers make these type of devices, most notably, SPEX SamplePrep LLC. [http://www.spexcsp.com/sampleprep/catalog/aid2tid3did54.html]

A number of recent studies report on the processing and behavior of nanostructured materials "via" cryomilling. [http://filer.funmat.no/FUNMAT_meeting_2006/FridayII_H2/9_deledda_0106.pdf]