Synthesis and grain growth kinetics of in-situ FeAl matrix nanocomposites (Ⅱ): Structural evolution and grain growth kinetics of mechanically alloyed Fe-Al-Ti-B composite powder during heat treatment

Morphological changes, structural evolutions and grain growth kinetics of mechanically alloyed(MAed) Fe50Al50, Fe42.5Al42.5Ti5B10 and Fe35Al35Ti10B20 (mole fraction, %) powders were investigated by XRD and SEM, when being isothermally annealed at 1 073-1 373 K. The effect of different Ti and B addition on the grain growth of FeAl phase was also discussed. The results show that the nanocrystalline FeAl and in-situ TiB2/FeAl nanocomposite powders can be synthesized by subsequent heat treatment. Besides the relaxation of crystal defects and lattice stress, the transformation from Fe-based solid solution into B2-FeAl and TiB2 occurs upon heating of the MA-processed alloys. Although the grain growth takes place, the grain sizes of both FeAl and TiB2 are still in nanometer scale. The activation energies for the nanocrystalline FeAl growth in the three alloys are calculated to be 534.9, 525.6 and 1 069.6 kJ/mol respectively, according to kinetics theory of nanocrystalline growth. Alloys with different TiB2 contents exhibit unequal thermal stability. The presence of higher content TiB2 plays significant role in the impediment of grain growth.     

Synthesis and grain growth kinetics of in-situ FeAl matrix nanocomposites（ Ⅰ ）： Mechanical alloying of Fe-A1-Ti-B composite powder

Three nanocrystalline alloys, FesoAlso, Fe42.5Al42.5Ti5B10 and Fe35Al35Ti10B20 （molar fraction, %）, were synthesized from elemental powders by high-energy ball milling. The structural evolutions and morphological changes of the milled powders were characterized by X-ray diffractometry（XRD）, transmission electron microscopy（TEM） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The effects of different Ti, B additions on the structure and phase transformation in these alloys were also discussed. It is observed that the diffusion of AI, Ti, B atoms into Fe lattice occurs during milling, leading to the formation of a BCC phase identified as Fe（Al） or Fe（Al, Ti, B） supersaturated solid solution. Fe-based solid solution with nanocrystalline structure is observed to be present as the only phase in all the alloy compositions after milling. Furthermore, the contents of Ti, B affect the formation of mechanical alloying products, changes in the lattice parameter as well as the grain size.     

Structure and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed Tb0.2Pr0.8（Fe0.4Co0.6）1.93 and magnetostriction of its epoxy composite

The C15 Laves phase with composition Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and subsequent annealing process. The structure and magnetic properties of Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), a vibrating sample magnetometer, and a standard strain technique. The effect of annealing on the structure and magnetic properties was studied. The analysis of XRD shows that the high Pr-content Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 alloy with the single phase of MgCu₂-type structure can be successfully synthesized by MA method. The sample annealed at 450°C is found to have a coercivity of 196 kA/m at room temperature. An epoxy/Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 composite was produced by a cold isostatic pressing technique. A large magnetostriction of 400 ppm, at an applied magnetic field of 800 kA/m, was found for the composite. The epoxy-bonded Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 composite combines a high magnetostriction with a significant coercivity, which is a promising magnetostrictive material.