Mechanical alloying of Fe–Si and milling of α- and β-FeSi2 bulk phases

Iron disilicide synthesis by mechanical alloying was performed. ɛ-FeSi, α-Fe1−xSi2, amorphous FeSi2 were formed with relative intensities depending on the milling period. β-FeSi2 phase was formed after annealing the gridded powder at the temperature where this phase is stable. Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods were applied to determine the different phases formed. The morphology of the resulting particles was observed by high resolution scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the milling on bulk iron–silicide samples was and studied chemical effects of the ball milling on Fe–Si2 systems have been studied.

Research highlightsMechanical alloying of Fe–Si and milling of α- and β-FeSi2 bulk phases deals with the formation of various Fe–Si phases applying milling technique. Systematic studies were performed on the relative intensities on the different structures depending on the milling periods.