Mössbauer and structure studies on metallic powders from Fe-Al-X (X = Ni, Cu, Cr)

Purpose: The Fe-Al-X and Fe-Al-Ni-X metallic powders produced by the self-decomposition process and then intensive grinding in an electro-magneto-mechanical mill with X = Fe, Ni, Cu, Cr additions was determined by applying the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Design/methodology/approach: The X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied to identify the phase composition of the studied materials. Ordering process was analyzed by X-ray diffraction methods and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Findings: The effects of solute addition (X = Fe, Ni, Cu, Cr) in the investigated Fe-Al and Fe-Al-Ni metallic powders are presented and discussed. Good correlation between the results of X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies was obtained. Research limitations/implications: The Mössbauer spectroscopy appeared to be usefull in the identification of phase composition in studied materials. Application of Rietveld refinement method enabled the verification of this composition. Practical implications: The information on the phase transformation during the self-decomposition process and then intensive grinding in an electro-magneto-mechanical mill with additions are of prime importance for technological processing. Originality/value: All the phases that exist in the milled material contain high concentrations of aluminium (over 50 at. %) and have the ordered B2 structure. Alloying additions (Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr) and intensive high-energy grinding in the EMM mill modified the chemical and phase composition of the Fe-Al-X and Fe-Al-Ni-X samples.