Effect of Milling Time on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nanostructured Fe₉₀Si₁₀ Alloys

Nanostructured Fe₉₀Si₁₀ powders were synthesized through a mechanical alloying process to explore the impact of milling duration on both their magnetic behavior and structural properties. Our investigation involved a comprehensive analysis encompassing morphological, magnetic, and structural characterizations, employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), a vibrating sample magnetometer, and x-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD analysis unveiled the formation of a disordered Fe₉₀Si₁₀ solid solution exhibiting a body-centered cubic crystal structure after 15 h of milling. With increasing milling time, the lattice parameter gradually increased from 0.2861 nm for the unmilled Fe₉₀Si₁₀ powder to 0.4528 nm after 30 h of milling. The sample subjected to 30 h of milling revealed an average crystallite size of 19.51 ± 0.03 nm, accompanied by noteworthy lattice deformation (0.236 ± 0.006%). To assess morphological evolution and elemental composition homogeneity during milling, SEM and EDS analyses were employed, respectively. For nanostructured Fe₉₀Si₁₀, we examined coercivity (H_c), magnetization saturation (M_s), remanent magnetization (M_r), and squareness (M_r/M_s) as functions of milling time through hysteresis loop measurements. The highest values for H_c, M_s, M_r, and M_r/M_s were achieved after 30 h. This study elucidates the intricate relationship between mechanical milling duration and the magnetic and structural properties of nanostructured Fe₉₀Si₁₀, providing valuable insights into their potential applications across various fields.