Synthesis of amorphous Fe75Si20−xMxB5 (M = Ti, Ta, Zr) via wet mechanical alloying and its structural, thermal and magnetic characterisation

• Fe75Si20−xM5B5 (M = Ti, Ta, Zr) alloys were prepared by wet MA from elemental powder.
• Si substitution significantly influences the particle size distribution.
• Substitution of Ti, Ta or Zr for Si increase the alloy crystallisation temperature.
• Powder saturation magnetisation decrease upon increasing milling time.
• PCA decomposition during milling leads to formation of carbides.

Amorphous Fe75Si15B5M5 powders with M = Ti, Ta and Zr, were synthesized by mechanical alloying and their thermal stability, crystalline state, particles morphology and magnetic properties were investigated in this study. It is found that the time to achieve amorphisation during milling increases by the substitution of any of the above transition metals 5% for silicon. The particle size distribution is dependent on the mechanical properties of the transitional metals used. Crystallisation temperature of the alloys was enhanced with up to 24% compared to the reference ternary alloy Fe75Si20B5. Magnetic measurements revealed a higher saturation magnetisation in the case of the amorphous alloy containing titanium than for the reference amorphous alloy. XRD patterns for the samples heated up to 900 °C reveal the presence of carbides as a result of powder contamination by the process control agent (PCA).

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