Mössbauer and X-ray diffraction studies of nanostructured Fe70Al30 powders elaborated by mechanical alloying

We have studied the effect of milling time on the structural and hyperfine properties of Fe70Al30 compound elaborated by mechanical alloying. The elaboration was performed with a vario-planetary ball mill P4 at different milling times. The milled powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. From XRD diffraction spectra, we show that the bcc Fe(Al) solid solution was completely formed after 27 h of milling time. When the milling time increases, the lattice parameter increases, whereas the grain size decreases and the mean level of microstrains increases. The analysis of Mössbauer spectra shows that from 4 h of milling, a disordered ferromagnetic Fe70Al30 starts to form and dominates after 36 h.

► Nanocrystalline Fe70Al30 powders were successfully elaborated by mechanical alloying. ► The Mössbauer spectra show that from 4 h of milling, a disordered ferromagnetic. ► Fe70Al30 starts to form and dominates after 36 h.