Synthesis and characterization of nanocristalline Fe-40 at.% Si alloy prepared by high energy ball milling

Abstract

Fe60Si40 (at.%) alloys were synthesised using a planetary ball mill. X-ray diffraction was used to identify and characterise various phases formed during the milling process. Mössbauer and electromagnetic methods were used to characterise the variations in structure and their influence on the local change of magnetic properties. The shape of hyperfine field distributions used to describe the Mössbauer spectra is discussed. It was found that after 4 h of milling, α-FeSi and Fe3Si starts to form. The coexistence of the α-FeSi phase and Fe3Si was found between 8 and 16 h. After 32 h of milling, the powder was completely transformed into the alloy phase (Fe3Si). The value of the mean particle size of our samples decreases with increasing milling time. It reaches the value of 0.42 μm after 56 h of milling. The crystallite size was reduced to 13 nm after milling. The coercitive field HC decreases with increased milling time.

Silicon-Doped Nanostructured Fe₈₀Ni₂₀ Alloys: The Role of Si on the Microstructure, Morphology and Magnetic Properties

“…The coercivity increases monotonically with the increase of Si concentration up to a value of 27 Oe for the alloy with x=20 %. The increase in the coercivity Hc observed after the addition of Si can be associated with the large volume fractions of disordered regions (grain boundaries) [31] and defects [32] which are produced by severe plastic deformation during grinding. These faults react with the walls of the magnetic domains by blocking their movement during the reversal of the magnetization.…”

Characteristics of Nanostructured Cr₇₅Ni₂₅ Alloy Powders Produced by High-Energy Ball Milling

“…It seems that the population of fine particles obtained from the erosion of intermediate particles, is subjected to local high shear stress during milling time. [9]…”