Preparation of nanocrystalline Fe–Si–Ni soft magnetic powders by mechanical alloying

In this study, structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe–Si–Ni powders produced by mechanical alloying (MA) have been investigated. The samples with different chemical compositions and milling times were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The alloy powders with average grain size 8–19 nm were synthesized by milling for 35–100 h. Coercivity (Hc) and crystallite size exhibited a similar decrease by increasing the mechanical alloying time. Maximum saturation magnetization (Ms) and minimum Hc were obtained at the composition of Fe87Si10Ni5 after 70 h milling.