Synthesis of nanocrystalline Fe13at.%B7at.%Si by mechanical alloying

The synthesis of nanocrystalline Fe-13at.%B-7at.%Si using mechanical alloying of elemental powders in a SPEX mill was investigated. Precise lattice parameter measurements provide insight into the dissolution of Si and B in the nanocrystalline Fe lattice. These data indicate that the complete dissolution of Si in the crystalline Fe matrix required 128 h milling. Only 35% of the total B content was estimated to be in solution after 128 h. Debris from vial and ball wear after this extended milling, however, is found to represent over 35 wt.% of the final composition, and to produce an increase in lattice parameter of approximately 3.7 × 10−7 nm per hour of milling. In addition, the present results indicate that the disappearance of Si peaks in the X-ray diffraction spectra may be related more directly to the low atomic scattering factor of Si than to its dissolution in Fe.