This proposal emphasizes research on the mechanisms of formation of amorphous structure during mechanical alloying of crystalline intermetallic alloys. Three nickel-base intermetallic alloys will be employed based on the nickel- aluminum alloy system. A-15 structure compounds niobium-tin and niobium-germanium will be mechanically alloyed, and their state of structural disorder followed through superconducting property measurements. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry will be employed to follow the structural changes in these materials. The concept of a critical defect density needed to reach the amorphous structural state will be examined in the experimental program
