The effect of silicon addition on the mechanical alloying of FeB powder

FeB powders were prepared by mechanical alloying, and the effect of silicon addition during mechanical alloying on the crystal structure, the phase evolution, and the magnetic properties was investigated by using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The starting elements, Fe and Si, were incorporated into the α-Fe structure during mechanical alloying. After annealing the alloyed powder at 800 °C in vacuum, two phases, FeB and Fe₂B, were found to coexist. Silicon enhanced the amorphization of the FeB powders and reduced the synthesis time required by mechanical alloying. It was revealed that the formation of the Fe₂B phase could be restricted by substituting a small amount of Si for B.