Effect of high energy ball milling on the structural and soft magnetic properties of FeAlSi powders

Abstract

This research elucidates the ball milling effect on Fe powder and the addition of 5 wt% of Al, Si, and AlSi at intermediate milling times from 1 to 4 h. Structural and magnetic properties of milled powders were analyzed by XRD, FESEM, and VSM. Grain refinement of pure Fe began after the 3 h of milling time, whereas the Al addition suppressed the milling behaviour. But Si addition enhanced grain refinement, and the combined effect of AlSi had moderate refinement. The change in lattice constant, micro strain, crystalline size, and shape morphology were compared with saturation magnetization, coercivity, anisotropy constant, and initial permeability. The effect of plastic deformation developed internal stress and the change in lattice behaviour after fracture point influenced the magnetic properties. I-optimal mixture design was used to observe the variation in structural and magnetic properties using design expert software.