The synthesis of nanocrystalline Fe78B13Si9 by cryogenic high-energy ball milling of metglas

Abstract

Abstract A nanocrystalline material was synthesized by cryogenic high-energy ball milling of Metglas Fe 78 B 13 Si 9 ribbons. The nanocrystalline structure consisted of 2–13 nm grains of α-Fe(Si) and Fe 2 B, identified by electron diffraction in TEM. In the early stages of milling, bending-induced shear bands were formed, followed by the initial stages of crystallization. As the milling proceeded, predominantly wear-like mechanisms caused further crystallization. The mechanically induced crystallization of Fe 78 B 13 Si 9 consists of both thermal and athermal mechanisms. The kinetics of crystallization were characterized by a sigmoidal transformation curve, which may be described by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami relation.