Evolution of structure, microstructure and hyperfine properties of nanocrystalline Fe50Co50 powders prepared by mechanical alloying

Nanostructured Fe₅₀Co₅₀ powders were prepared by mechanical alloying of Fe and Co elements in a vario-planetary high-energy ball mill. The structural properties, morphology changes and local iron environment variations were investigated as a function of milling time (in the 0-200 h range) by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The complete formation of bcc Fe₅₀Co₅₀ solid solution is observed after 100 h milling. As the milling time increases from 0 to 200 h, the lattice parameter decreases from 0.28655 nm for pure Fe to 0.28523 nm, the grain size decreases from 150 to 14 nm, while the meal level of strain increases from 0.0069% to 1.36%. The powder particle morphology at different stages of formation was observed by SEM. The parameters derived from the Mössbauer spectra confirm the beginning of the formation of Fe₅₀Co₅₀ phase at 43 h of milling. After 200 h of milling the average hyperfine magnetic field of 35 T suggests that a disordered bcc Fe-Co solid solution is formed.