Characterization of the Fe90-xSi10Crx (x = 10, 15)‎ nanostructured powders prepared by mechanical alloying

Abstract EN

In this study, structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe80Si10Cr10 and Fe75Si10Cr15 powders produced by mechanical alloying (MA) have been investigated and examined by X-ray diffraction and 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry.

Mechanical alloying was carried out in a planetary high energy ball mill starting from pure elements of iron, silicon and chrome.

After 15 h of milling, it is observed the formation of two bcc solid solutions α-Fe1 (Si, Cr) and α-Fe2 (Si, Cr) for the Fe80Si10Cr10 alloy.

Their grain sizes decrease with milling time and attains 23 nm and 11 nm respectively.

For the Fe75Si10Cr15 alloy the XRD shows the formation of the bcc and the cfc solid solution with a low concentration.

The lattice parameter of the bcc solid solution increases with increasing time and chrome content.

Mössbauer spectrum at room temperature of the Fe80Si10Cr10 alloy resulted in the formation of two contributions, ferromagnetic and paramagnetic with a low concentration of 4 %.

Addition of Cr as in the case Fe75Si10Cr15 alloy increases the paramagnetic contribution with a relative concentration of 17.5 %.