Microstructural and magnetic characterization of iron precipitation in Ni-Fe-Al alloys

► Evolution of microstructure and magnetic properties with varying Fe content. ► Transient rise in magnetization via the formation of ferromagnetic phase. ► Enhancements in saturation magnetization owing to precipitated ferromagnetic phase. ► Nanoscale precipitation of ferromagnetic BCC α-Fe confirmed by TEM. ► Hardness of the β-phase correlates with room temperature saturation magnetization.