Evolution of Fe environments in mechanically alloyed Fe–Nb–(B) compositions

Highlights: • Nb is rapidly incorporated to the nanocrystalline FeNb(B) matrix. • B inclusions remains even after long milling times. • B is helpful to enhance the comminuting of crystallites. - Abstract: Nanocrystalline alloys of nominal composition Fe₈₅Nb₅B₁₀ were produced by mechanical alloying from a mixture of elemental powders. Two commercial boron structures were used: amorphous and crystalline. In addition, a third composition Fe_94.4Nb_5.6 was prepared for comparison. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used to describe the evolution of the microstructure and Fe environments as a function of the milling time. Whereas Nb is rapidly incorporated into the nanocrystalline matrix, boron inclusions remain even after long milling times. The presence of boron is found to enhance the comminuting of crystallites