Formation and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe₆₀Co₄₀ alloys produced by mechanical alloying

The Fe₆₀Co₄₀ alloys were prepared by mechanical alloying of the Fe and Co powders using a high-energy ball mill. They were studied with respect to phase formation and magnetic properties using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and measurements of coercivity and remanence (B_r). The evaluation of Fe lattice parameters during milling showed that formation of a body-centered cubic solid solution occurred by mechanical alloying after 12 h of milling. Intensive milling of Fe-Co powders results in a nonequilibrium microstructure characterized by grain refinement to a minimum of 10–13 nm and the introduction of internal strain up to 0.5%.