Control of a Nanocomposite Structure in Fe₈₆Nd₉B₅ Alloy by Electron Irradiation

Abstract

Change in nanocomposite structure in rapidly solidified Fe₈₆Nd₉B₅ alloy during electron irradiation was investigated. Nanocrystalline structure composed of α-Fe, Fe₃B, Nd₂Fe₁₄B and Nd₂Fe₂₃B₃ crystalline phases was formed by rapid solidification. Electron irradiation can introduce amorphization of intermetallic compounds and crystallization of an amorphous phase, resulting in the formation of a novel nanocomposite structure in which α-Fe and Nd₂Fe₁₄B nanocrystals are embedded in the amorphous matrix. The mechanism of nanocomposite structure formation was discussed based on the phase stability of amorphous and crystalline phases under electron irradiation.