Structure of α-FeSi alloys with 8 and 10 at % silicon

The atomic structure of single-crystal samples of Fe_{1 ? x} Si _x (x = 0.08, 0.10) alloys has been investigated using X-ray diffraction. It has been shown that the body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice of these alloys contain clusters with local ordering of the B2 type, which are characteristic of alloys with depleted composition (x = 0.05?0.06). The Fe₃Si phase with the D0₃ structure has been revealed at silicon concentrations x = 0.08 and 0.10. The volume fraction of Fe₃Si-phase regions increases both with an increase in the silicon concentration in the Fe_{1 ? x} Si _x alloy and during annealing of the samples with this silicon concentration at a temperature of 450°C. Based on the results obtained, it has been concluded that the anisotropic distribution of the B2 clusters, which arises as a result of thermomagnetic or thermomechanical treatment, is responsible for the induction and stability of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the Fe_{1 ? x} Si _x (x = 0.05?0.10) alloys.