Process of Amorphization Induced by Mechanical Alloying of Iron with Tungsten and Niobium

Mechanical alloying method was used to synthesise powders of iron with tungsten and niobium. Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction have been applied to monitor the progress in solid-state reactions. In the case of Fe-W system, exhibiting a positive heat of mixing, no trace of amorphization was observed for 20 and 33 at.% of W, as the calculations of phase diagram (CALPHAD) method suggest. During the mechanical alloying process, two solid solutions Fe(W) and W(Fe) were obtained. Mössbauer measurements allowed to recognise the Fe(W) solid solution as a ferromagnetic phase, while the W(Fe) solid solution as a paramagnetic one. In the case of Fe-Nb system, exhibiting a negative heat of mixing, single phase amorphous alloys were synthesised during mechanical alloying of iron with 48 and 64 at.% of Nb. For both investigated compositions, the final products of mechanical alloying processes were amorphous paramagnetic alloys.