Magnetic characterization of nanocrystalline Fe80−xCrxCo20 (15≤x≤35) alloys during milling and subsequent annealing

•Hc and Ms of produced alloys obtained in the range of 110–200 Oe and 150–220 emu/g.•The highest value of Hc in milled and annealed samples was achieved in Fe45Cr35Co20.•Hc of produced alloys after spinodal decomposition decreased to about 40–150 Oe.•The effect of crystalline defects and residual strain on magnetic fields pinning in milled samples is higher than spinodal decomposition in annealed samples.•The highest value of Hc in as-milled and annealed samples was achieved in Fe45Cr35Co20. The coercivity of produced alloys after annealing process decreased and reach to about 40–150 Oe.•The produced nanocrystalline alloys exhibit magnetic properties with the coercivity and saturation of magnetization in the range of 110–200 Oe and 150–220 emu/g, respectively.

Magnetic characterization of nanocrystalline Fe–Cr–Co alloys during milling and annealing process was the goal of this study. To formation of Fe80−xCrxCo20 (15≤x≤35) solid solution, different powder mixtures of Fe, Cr and Co elements were mechanically milled in a planetary ball mill. The annealing process was done in as-milled samples at different temperature in the range of 500–640 °C for 2 h. The produced samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and vibrating sample magnetometer. Performed mechanical alloying in different powder mixtures lead to the formation of Fe–Cr–Co α-phase solid solution with average crystallite sizes of about 10 nm. The produced nanocrystalline alloys exhibit magnetic properties with the coercivity and saturation of magnetization in the range of 110–200 Oe and 150–220 emu/g, respectively. The coercivity of produced alloys after annealing process decreased and reached to about 40–150 Oe. The highest value of coercivity in as-milled and annealed samples was achieved in alloys with higher Cr contents.