Crystallization of Fe-P amorphous alloys as studied by the EDXD method

Abstract

The crystallization of amorphous Fe-P alloys, made by electrodeposition, were studied using energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXD), thermomagnetic, and Mossbauer measurements. EDXD proved to be especially useful, because its very short exposure time enabled us to perform isothermal crystallization measurements with practically continuous control by means of diffraction spectra. By measuring the intensity of the appropriate diffraction lines, the crystallization kinetics of each phase could be recorded simultaneously. At 610 K the crystallization of an Fe81.2P18.8 amorphous alloy was found to start within 5 min with the primary crystallization ofα-iron. This step is followed by the eutectic crystallization of the stable phasesα-iron and Fe3P.