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In an example of a method for forming a high-strength, lightweight alloy, starting materials are provided. The starting materials include aluminum, iron, and silicon. The starting materials are ball milled to generate the high-strength, lightweight alloy of a stable AlxFeySiz phase, wherein x ranges

In an example of a method for forming a high-strength, lightweight alloy, starting materials are provided. The starting materials include aluminum, iron, and silicon. The starting materials are ball milled to generate the high-strength, lightweight alloy of a stable AlxFeySiz phase, wherein x ranges from about 3 to about 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z is about 1.

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1. A method for forming a high-strength, lightweight alloy, comprising: ball milling starting materials including aluminum, iron, and silicon, to generate the high-strength, lightweight alloy of a stable AlxFeySiz phase, wherein x ranges from about 3 to about 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2,

1. A method for forming a high-strength, lightweight alloy, comprising: ball milling starting materials including aluminum, iron, and silicon, to generate the high-strength, lightweight alloy of a stable AlxFeySiz phase, wherein x ranges from about 3 to about 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z is about 1. 2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising performing the ball milling in the presence of an anhydrous liquid medium. 3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein a ratio of total starting materials to the anhydrous liquid medium ranges from 1:5 to 1:10 by volume. 4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the anhydrous liquid medium is an anhydrous hydrocarbon. 5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the anhydrous hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of pentane, hexane, heptane, and combinations thereof. 6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the stable AlxFeySiz phase has x equal to 3, y equal to 2, and z equal to 1, and wherein the starting materials include: from about 36 wt % to about 37 wt % aluminum based on a total wt % of the starting materials;from about 50 wt % to about 51 wt % iron based on the total wt % of the starting materials;and from about 12 wt % to about 13 wt % silicon based on the total wt % of the starting materials. 7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the stable AlxFeySiz phase has x ranging from 4 to 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z equal to 1, and wherein the starting materials include: from about 41 wt % to about 55 wt % aluminum based on a total wt % of the starting materials;from about 33 wt % to about 48 wt % iron based on the total wt % of the starting materials; andfrom about 9 wt % to about 13 wt % silicon based on the total wt % of the starting materials. 8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the starting materials include: an aluminum powder that is at least 99% pure;an iron powder that is at least 97% pure; anda silicon powder that is at least 99% pure. 9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising performing the ball milling for a time period ranging from about 8 hours to about 32 hours. 10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the ball milling of the starting materials is accomplished in a high energy ball mill. 11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the ball milling of the starting materials is accomplished with: at least one large ball having a diameter ranging from about 10 mm to about 13 mm; andat least two small balls having a diameter ranging from about 3 mm to about 7 mm. 12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein a ratio of the large ball to the small balls is 1:2. 13. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the ball milling of the starting materials is accomplished in an environment containing an inert gas. 14. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising forming a vehicle component from the high-strength, lightweight alloy. 15. A high-strength, lightweight alloy formed by the process of claim 1, the high-strength, lightweight alloy including the stable AlxFeySiz phase, wherein x ranges from about 3 to about 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z is about 1. 16. The high-strength, lightweight alloy as defined in claim 15 wherein the stable AlxFeySiz phase is Al4Fe1.7Si or Al3Fe2Si, and wherein a Young's modulus of the alloy ranges from about 230 GPa to about 280 GPa. 17. A method for facilitating uniform mixing and alloying during formation of a high-strength, lightweight alloy, the method comprising: adding starting materials and a grinding medium to a ball mill, the starting materials including aluminum, iron, and silicon;adding an anhydrous liquid medium to the ball mill with the starting materials and the grinding medium; andball milling the starting materials in the presence of the grinding medium and the anhydrous liquid medium to generate the high-strength, lightweight alloy of a stable AlxFeySiz phase, wherein x ranges from about 3 to about 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z is about 1. 18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein a ratio of total starting materials to the anhydrous liquid medium ranges from 1:5 to 1:10 by volume. 19. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the anhydrous liquid medium is a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of pentane, hexane, heptane, and combinations thereof. 20. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein one of: the stable AlxFeySiz phase has x equal to 3, y equal to 2, and z equal to 1, and adding starting materials includes: adding from about 36 wt % to about 37 wt % of aluminum based on a total wt % of the starting materials;adding from about 50 wt % to about 51 wt % of iron based on the total wt % of the starting materials; andadding from about 12 wt % to about 13 wt % of silicon based on the total wt % of the starting materials; orthe stable AlxFeySiz phase has x ranging from 4 to 5, y ranges from about 1.5 to about 2.2, and z equal to 1, and adding the starting materials includes: adding from about 41 wt % to about 55 wt % of aluminum based on a total wt % of the starting materials;adding from about 33 wt % to about 48 wt % of iron based on the total wt % of the starting materials; andadding from about 9 wt % to about 13 wt % of silicon based on the total wt % of the starting materials.