Thermal behaviour and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed nanostructured Fe Al

The work focuses on mechanical alloying of elemental powders, high energy rate ball milling is utilised to achieve mechanical alloying of Fe and Al. Mechanical alloying in a toluene media and its effects on atmospheric and milling media contaminations are looked into. Phase transformation, structural properties, composition and particle size during mechanical alloying are investigated by X ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Scanning electron microscope SEM) is utilised to study the morphology of unmilled and as milled powder particles. Elevated temperature behaviour during the processing is investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Room temperature magnetic and thermo magnetic properties were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer. Transition to an ordered structure from disorder and nanostructure are proved by XRD and TEM, alloying of elemental phases, ordering, recrystallisation and grain growth are shown in the DSC results. Magnetization decreases due to alloying of elemental phases and anti-ferromagnetic super-exchange interaction between Fe sites mediated by Al atoms. The curie temperature is present in samples mechanically alloyed at higher milling duration and is influenced by the ferromagnetic clusters and grain size.