Abstract
Mechanical alloying (MA) of iron and graphite powders has been performed using a conventional ball-mill. MA process of Fe1-xCx (x=0.17-0.90) powders has been studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry.
Results from X-ray diffraction and 57Fe Mbssbauer measurement suggest the formation of amorphous phase in powders ball-milled for about 200 hours. After subsequently long milling periods like 1000 hours, the formation of metastable carbides of Fe3C and Fe7C3 has been detected for the powders of x=0.17-0.25 and x=0.29-0.70. Formation of super-paramagnetic Fe-C particles at room temperature has been detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy for the powders having a higher carbon content like x=0.90.
