Mössbauer studies of baotite and bafertisite

The Mössbauer effect was used to study silicate minerals of baotite and bafertisite at 298 K and 95 K. Each spectrum of baotite at 298 K and 95 K consists of two doublets, and they are contributed from Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in the octahedral Tisites, respectively. Each spectrum of bafertisite at 298 K and 95 K is composed of two doublets, and they are mainly caused by Fe²⁺ in the octahedral Fe(I) and Fe(II)sites, respectively. The average effective ionic radii of the Ti sites in baotite and the Fe(I) and Fe(II)sites in bafertisite were estimated based on the correlation of the isomer shifts with the average effective ionic radii in silicates, and they are 0.56 , 0.73 and 0.73 , respectively.     

Accelerated mechanosynthesis of high-nitrogen stainless steel: Mössbauer and X-ray diffraction studies

A completely austenitic structure has been obtained ten times faster via the mechanical alloying (MA) of high-nitrogen 25Cr10Mn1N alloy from metal components and manganese nitride than during the MA of similar steels in a nitrogen atmosphere. A mechanism for the bcc → fcc phase transformation that occurs during MA, and where deformation stacking faults of the layer fault type on the {211} atomic planes of the bcc phase play a key role, is considered and proposed.     

Mössbauer and PAC studies of nanocrystalline Fe

High-purity Fe powder was mechanically milled under argon at ambient temperature using an SPEX 8000 mill. The local atomic and magnetic structure was studied using⁵⁷Co/Fe Mössbauer and¹¹¹In/Cd perturbed angular correlations (PAC) spectroscopies. After 32 hours of milling, X-ray diffraction revealed effective grain diameters of 18 nm and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis indicated a Cr impurity concentration of 5%, presumably introduced by mechanical attrition of steel ball bearings used for milling. In addition to a spectral component very similar to bulk iron metal, the Mössbauer spectra exhibited hyperfine field shifts attributed to the Cr impurities. PAC spectra on Fe milled for 5 h, with no contamination, exhibited two components: (1) A slightly broadened magnetic interaction attributed to interior, defect-free sites of In/Cd probes with a mean hyperfine field slightly greater than in macroscopic grains. The defect-free site fraction grew appreciably during milling, even though In is essentially insoluble in Fe. (2) An indistinct signal due to mixed magnetic and quadrupole interactions attributed to probes at surface or other defect sites.     

Mössbauer and X-Ray studies of MgO-Fe nanocomposite

XRD phase analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy are used to study the structure of magnesiowustite (Mg_0.9Fe_0.1) obtained via the decomposition of mixed iron-magnesium oxalate in different atmospheres, the structure of MgO-α-Fe composite after reduction by hydrogen in Ar + 5% H₂ gas mixture at 800°C and 1000°C, and the structure of iron at every stage. It was shown that fine particles of α-Fe are obtained upon the decomposition of iron-magnesium oxalate in vacuum at 1000°C. If a precursor is decomposed in high purity Ar, α-Fe particles form during reduction at lower temperature (800°C) due to the partial decomposition of one of the phase components—magnetite.     

Mössbauer and susceptibility studies of FeMoVO7

The oxidic phase FeMoVO₇ of the Fe₂O₃-V₂O₅-MoO₃ system has been synthesized. Susceptibility measurements from 4.2 K to room temperature display an antiferromagnetic behaviour with an effective magnetic moment of 5.80 _b . This value, and the measured Mössbauer isomer shift of 0.40±0.02 mm/s, are characteristic of high-spin Fe(III). The lowT _n value of 15 K suggests a weak interaction among the Fe-O polyhedra. The relative small QS=0.28±0.02 mm/s found in this compound shows that the Fe-O polyhedra symmetry is close to octahedral and almost undistorted.     

Mössbauer and X-ray phase analysis of carburized steel

⁵⁷Fe backscattering Mössbauer phase analysis of the ASTM A295-70 type chromium bearing steel gas was performed for samples with varying phase composition achieved by gas carburization up to 3 wt% C followed by standard hardening, i.e. austenitizing and quenching procedures. Variations of contents of principal metallographic phases (alloyed martensite, austenite, magnetic and non-magnetic carbides) were determined and compared with reported X-ray data. Results are discussed in connection with the composition and heat treatment. Good mutual agreement of results was found, the Mössbauer phase analysis being superior for distinguishing magnetic and non-magnetic carbides, for finding the dependence on composition and also for detecting alloying element segregation. On the other hand, the Mössbauer method of determination of a small content of alloyed retained austenite suffers from the small difference between its satellites and non-magnetic carbides.     

X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of cementite dissolution in cold-drawn pearlitic steel

Cementite dissolution in cold-drawn pearlitic steel (0.8 wt.% carbon) wires has been studied by quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy up to drawing strain 1.4. Quantification of cementite-phase fraction by Rietveld analysis has confirmed more than 50% dissolution of cementite phase at drawing strain 1.4. It is found that the lattice parameter of the ferrite phase determined by Rietveld refinement procedure remains nearly unchanged even after cementite dissolution. This confirms that the carbon atoms released after cementite dissolution do not dissolve in the ferrite lattice as Fe-C interstitial solid solution. Detailed analysis of broadening of XRD line profiles for the ferrite phase shows high density of dislocations (～10¹⁵/m²) in the ferrite matrix at drawing strain 1.4. The results suggest a dominant role of ?1?1?1? screw dislocations in the cementite dissolution process. Post-deformation heat treatment leads to partial annihilation of dislocations and restoration of cementite phase. Based on these experimental observations, further supplemented by TEM studies, we have suggested an alternative thermodynamic mechanism of the dissolution process.     

Mössbauer studies of subfossil oak

With the PANDA experiment at the FAIR facility in Darmstadt, Germany it will be possible to investigate antiproton-nucleus reactions in an energy range not explored so far. This provides opportunities for unique measurements of which some are outlined in this article. Possible modifications of hadron properties in nuclear matter is subject of extensive theoretical and experimental studies. With PANDA it will be possible to extend this kind of studies to the charm sector. A study of particular interest will be to measure the J/Ψ-nucleon dissociation cross-section. This cross-section is relevant for the interpretation of the J/Ψ suppression observed in high energy heavy ion reactions. Further topics include the study of antibaryons in nuclei and short-range nucleon-nucleon correlations.     

Mössbauer and magnetization studies of iron oxide nanocrystals

Monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystals have been produced following non-hydrolytic, thermal decomposition routes. Spherically shaped particles with diameter of 4 and 12 nm and cubic shaped particles with an edge length of 9 nm have been studied. The particles have been shown to consist of mainly maghemite. A reduction of the saturation magnetic hyperfine field is observed for the 4 nm particles as compared to the corresponding bulk value. The anisotropy energy determined from the temperature variation of the magnetic hyperfine field was strongly enhanced for the 4 nm particles.     

The Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of matrix changes during continuous heating from as-quenched state of high carbon tool steel

Helium is unique in the sense that about 3% of low-energy antiprotons stopped in it survive with an average lifetime of a few microseconds, forming metastable states of the exotic antiprotonic helium atom ( $\overline{p}$ -He^?+?+?-e^??). This lifetime is sufficient to carry out laser spectroscopy measurements of atomic transitions of this exotic atom. The antiproton-to-electron mass ratio $M_{\overline{p}}/m_e$ can be deduced from comparisons with three-body QED calculations. A systematic study of the energy levels of this exotic atom started soon after its discovery, continuously aiming for higher precision (for a review see Yamazaki et al., Phys Rep 366:183, (2002) and references therein). Recently, at the Antiproton Decelerator of CERN, a femtosecond optical frequency comb and continuous-wave pulse-amplified laser were used to measure 12 transition frequencies to fractional precisions of (9???16)×10^???9, yielding an antiproton-to-electron mass ratio of 1836.152674(5).     

Mössbauer study of EUROFER and VVER steel reactor materials

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry were used to study EUROFER or VVER ferritic reactor steels mechanically alloyed with TaC or NbC. Significant changes were found in the Mössbauer spectra and in the corresponding hyperfine field distributions between the ball milled pure steel and that alloyed with TaC or NbC. Spectral differences were also found in the case of use of same carbides with different origin, too. The observed spectral changes as an effect of ball milling of the reactor material steels with carbides can be associated with change in short range order of the constituents of steel.     

Conversion electron and X-ray Mössbauer studies of boronized low-carbon steel under corrosion and oxidation conditions

Iron-boride layers on low-carbon steel were produced by thermochemical diffusion process. The surface interaction products: Fe₂B, FeB, FeB_x (x>1) and a solid solution of iron in boron were identified by surface Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS and XMS). Samples of original and boronized steel were subjected to corrosion process by immersion in HCl (0.1 N) solution for 150 h. While the steel sample was strongly corroded, none corrosion product was found on the boronized sample surface. However, significant changes in relative percentages of the various iron boride phases were detected. Also, samples of original and boronized steel were subjected to oxidation process by heat-treatment in air at 300°C for 8 h and 500°C for 4 h. At 300°C, while bulk Fe₃O₄ and -Fe₂O₃ were formed on the steel surface, none iron oxide was detected on the boronized surface. At 500° C, while only pure bulk -Fe₂O₃ was detected on the steel surface, a particle size distribution of-Fe₂O₃, with particle size of about 100 Å, was probably formed on the boronized surface, as evidenced by CEMS.     

Mössbauer studies of selected synthetic silicates

Mössbauer spectra of fayalite-, 7#x03B1;-Fe₂SiO₄, powder and single crystals were taken in the antiferromagnetic temperature region below T _N?65 K. The orientation of the efg and H(0) with respect to the crystallographic axes was determined as function of the temperature and compared to neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility data. A similar study was performed with Li‐acmite LiFeSi₂O₆, whose magnetic structure can be regarded as a model compound for quasi one‐dimensional systems. Synthetic annite KFe₃[AlSi₃O₁₀(OH)₂] has to contain at least about 10% Fe³⁺ in order to be stable. A comparison of the evaluation of the spectra assuming either Lorentzian line shape of the doublets or quadrupole splitting distributions QSDs shows that Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺‐ratios can be determined precisely by both methods. However, M2/M1-site distributions cannot be evaluated with great accuracy. In ilvaite CaFe₃[Si₂O₇/O/(OH)], there is a thermally activated intersite electron hopping between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ at temperatures around 300 K in a double octahedron chain. At temperatures above 395 K there is extended electron delocalization in a narrow d‐ or polaron‐band. The substitution of Fe by Mn favours both effects and lowers the temperature of the crystallographic phase transition monoclinic to orthorhombic distinctly. In the solid solution series member acmite(50%)‐hedenbergite(50%) Na_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂[Si₂O₆] just intersite electron hopping between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in the M1 octahedron chain and no formation of polaron bands is observed. This is explained by the larger Fe–Fe‐intrachain distances compared to those in ilvaite or magnetite.     

Mössbauer and N.M.R. studies of ErFe2Hx

Hydrides of Intermetallic compounds have been the object of many studies because of their potential applications/1/. Recent papers were devoted to the problem of interstitial site occupation in connection with H-H exclusion rule (d_H–H > 2.1 A). The present work deals with ErFe₂H_X, which has been investigated both by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer Effect and by¹⁶⁷Er N.M.R. Previous studies were limited to X 2, 3.5, 4.1. Here five values of x (1.45, 1.6, 1.84, 2.6, 3.3) are considered, in order to obtain information on hydrogen location, filling and diffusion as a function of x, and also on hydrogen contribution to the electric field gradient (E.F.G.) and crystalline field at the Rare Earth.     

Mössbauer studies of iron stabilised polymethacrylates

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethyl methacrylate (PEMA) and polybutyl methacrylate (PBuMA) containing ferric chloride and ferrous sulphate as stabilisers, were prepared by free radical polymerization. Mössbauer spactra of ferrous sulphate stabilised polymers don't show any change in the value of isomer shift (1.30 mm/s) while quadrupole splitting values are quite different from those for pure ferrous sulphate. This indicates that environment of Fe²⁺ moiety changes in polymers and thus stabilises the polymers. In case of ferric chloride stabilised polymers the isomer shift values don't differ significantly for different polymethacrylates but quadrupole splitting values increase from polymethyl methacrylate to polybutyl methacrylate. The TGA analysis shows that the inclusion of iron salts stabilises the polymers by 40°C (approx.) and at higher temperatures α-Fe₂O₃ is formed.     

Mössbauer and X-ray studies of an iron meteorite sample

Detailed analysis of the room temperature Mössbauer spectrum of an Fe-Ni ( 91.9% Fe, 7.5% Ni) meteorite from the Henbury crater region of northern Australia shows that it behaves identically to an Fe-Ni alloy. The enhanced resonance absorption is due to thickness effects, with the line broadening reflecting a range of atomic environments. The isotope ratio⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁷Fe for the meteorite agrees with the earth bound values.     

Mössbauer effect and XRD studies of iron-zinc binary alloys

Mössbauer spectroscopy and XRD were employed to characterize the microstructural properties of iron-zinc binary alloys between 0–31 at.% Fe. Samples were prepared with accuracies of ±0.5 at.% Fe, and the Mössbauer and lattice parameters were monitored as a function of iron concentration across each phase. Two iron sites were observed in the phase (18–31 at.% Fe), whose occupancies and isomer shifts varied continuously with iron content. However, the quadrupole splitting of each site remained constant. Within the ₁ phase (19–24 at.% Fe), three iron sites were observed whose isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings remained constant, while their occupancies varied with iron concentration. For the first time, a third iron site was observed in the phase (8–13 at.% Fe), whose occupancy increases with iron content. Also, the site occupancies of the two other sites appear to remain constant, while other Mössbauer parameters vary continuously with iron content. Analysis of the phase (6–7 at.% Fe) showed the presence of one iron site, whose parameters were not observed to change due to the small variance in iron concentration. XRD studies indicate the lattice parameters across the and phases vary continuously with iron concentration. Moreover, a better understanding of these phases, as formed in galvanneal steel coatings, was obtained.Research supported by the International Lead Zinc Research Organization, Inc., Grant No. ZM-403 and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, Grant No. MAT-92-007-01.     

Mössbauer studies and magnetic properties of spinel lead ferrite

In the present communication, we have reported the synthesis of nanocrystalline lead ferrite (PbFe₂O₄) by citrate mediated autocombustion method. X-ray diffraction pattern reveals the single phase formation in cubic (spinel) structure. The particle size and the surface morphology of the samples are characterized by TEM and SEM analysis. Magnetic studies are carried out using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) shows a very high coercive field for the material. Mössbauer studies were performed to investigate the local symmetry i.e. Fe is in octahedral/tetrahedral site and the charge states of Fe ions.     

X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer studies of X20Cr13 steel subjected to ball milling

The powders of X20Cr13 steel were subjected to ball milling process in a planetary ball mill. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies revealed the refinement of the structure of this steel down to a nanocrystalline range practically without any phase transformations. Both techniques allowed to detect the alloyed ferrite as well as residual content of iron containing M₂₃C₆-type carbide, which was dissolved into the ferrite during milling. Hyperfine magnetic fields in ball milled steel samples did not differ significantly from those for the bulk steel disc.