New Insights into the Atomic Structure of Soft Magnetic Alloys Published in Journal of Materials Research & Technology

The article, titled "Effects of B addition on the structure, microstructure, and magnetic response of the Fe₆₅Co₃₅ alloy", has been published in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology. The research focuses on the synthesis of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys via mechanical alloying, aiming to enhance their magnetic saturation and efficiency for potential energy applications.

A focal point of this research is the detailed atomic-level analysis performed using Mössbauer spectroscopy. The study compares two alloy compositions Fe₆₅Co₃₅ with 15% and 20% B) to determine how metalloid addition influences the final microstructure.

The spectroscopic results revealed a critical distinction in the atomic environment. While alloys with lower B content (B15) exhibited incomplete diffusion, the samples with higher B content (B20) demonstrated a unique dual-sextet structure after 75 hours of milling. This analysis successfully identified the formation of a specific α-Fe(Co) phase, characterized by Fe atoms with two Co nearest neighbors.

This finding is significant as it confirms that higher B content facilitates the complete diffusion of Co into the Iron matrix. The formation of this specific ordered phase was directly correlated with the material's superior magnetic performance, specifically its high saturation magnetization (M_s) and low coercivity (H_c).

This work represents a successful collaboration between the INTE at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), along with the University of Girona, highlighting the importance of multiscale analysis in the development of next-generation magnetic materials.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S223878542600236X