A simple kinetic atomistic model is proposed for describing crystals submitted to sustained shearing, acting in competition with thermally activated diffusion. Monte Carlo simulations are performed on alloys with positive heats of mixing. The results provide a clear understanding of recent experiments showing that chemical mixing of immiscible elements can be induced by ball milling. At moderate shearing rates, an analytical model shows that such driven systems exhibit nonequilibrium roughening.

• Received 18 July 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.1819