Study of magnetic phases in mechanically alloyed Fe50Zn50 powder

The mechanosynthesis of Fe50Zn50 alloy resulted in the formation of the bcc Fe(Zn) solid solution after 20 h of milling. Structural transformations induced by mechanical alloying and heating, and magnetic properties of the powders were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Faraday balance and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques. All alloys studied exhibit strong magnetic ordering with Curie temperatures close to 900 K. Room temperature Mössbauer measurements revealed distinguished magnetic environments in the samples. The decrease of coercivity with prolonged milling time was attributed to the reduction or averaging of local magnetic anisotropies.

► Nanocrystalline bcc Fe(Zn) solid solution was formed in mechanically alloyed Fe50Zn50.
► Magnetic bcc Fe(Zn) and non-magnetic Fe4Zn9 phases were formed due to heating.
► Mössbauer spectra revealed two magnetic Fe environments in as-milled and heated samples.
► Curie temperatures close to 900 K were observed for bcc Fe(Zn).