Phase evolution studies during mechanical alloying of Fe(82−x)-Cr18-Six (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) alloy

• Fe18CrxSi(0–3) ternary alloys have been prepared by mechanical alloying.
• Phase evolution of the milled alloys was studied using XRD, SEM and FE-TEM.
• Different phases evolved with increase in milling time, i.e. solid solution formation. → amorphization → mechanical crystallization.
• Increase in Si content decreased the lattice parameter, and crystallite size, while micro-strain was increased.

Iron based alloys Fe(82−x)-Cr18-Six (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) wt% were developed by mechanical alloying (MA). Phase evolution studies on the milled powders were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to carry out morphological investigations. Results showed an initial solid solution formation at 5 h of milling and with continued milling to 35 h, an amorphous phase was formed. The amorphous phase was mechanically crystallized to α-phase at 85 h and 100 h of milling for Fe(82−x)-Cr18-Six (x = 0) and Fe(82−x)-Cr18-Six (x = 1, 2, 3) wt% alloys respectively. Both the lattice parameter and crystallite size were decreased with an increase in Si content of the alloys. With continued milling, micro-strain was increased and crystallite size of the alloys was decreased.

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