Magnetic properties and Structural characterization of nanocrystalline Fe-20%A (Ni, Co and Si) alloys powders synthesized by mechanical alloying process

This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of nanocrystalline Fe-A (Ni, Co, and Si) alloy powders using mechanical alloying technique with Retsch PM 400 high energy planetary ball mill. The evolution of the phases and magnetic properties of the powders are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) as a function of grinding time. The XRD results indicate that after 20 hours of milling, the FeNi, FeCo, and FeSi phases are completely formed. The lattice deformation of FeSi alloy is 0.7%, and the grain size decreases to 17 nm, 13.5 nm, and 10 nm for FeNi, FeCo, and FeSi, respectively. SEM observations of the powder morphologies at different stages of alloy formation are also conducted. Moreover, elemental maps of Fe, Ni, Co, and Si obtained by EDS experiments confirme the XRD results on the evolution of the alloy formation. Finally, the VSM results showed that the magnetic properties of FeNi, FeCo, and  FeSi alloy nanoparticles are influenced by the composition, size, and morphology of the particles. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the preparation and characterization of nanocrystalline Fe-A (Ni, Co, and Si) alloy powders, which may have potential applications in various fields.