Magnetic and structural characterization of the mechanically alloyed Fe75Si15B10 powders

Nanocrystalline Fe75Si15B10 powders were obtained by mechanical alloying in a high energy planetary ball mill. Morphological, microstructural, structural and magnetic property changes during the milling process were followed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The crystallite size reduction to the nanometer scale (6-13 nm) is accompanied by an increase in atomic level strain. The Fe2B boride phase is formed after 5 h of milling. The dissolution of B and Si into the Fe lattice leads to the formation of bcc α-Fe(Si,B) solid solution. On prolonged milling time, a mixture of highly disordered α-Fe(Si,B) solid solution and Fe2B boride is obtained. The coercivity and magnetization values are 55 Oe and 6.7 emu/g, respectively, after 150 h of milling.