MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF MECHANICALLY ALLOYED FE3SN

Amorphous 3Fe-Sn powders have been prepared by the mechanical alloying of elemental iron and tin powders. During the milling process the FeS n2 phase appears at first and then vanishes for a milling time over 15 h. When the milling time is increased to 30 h, the X-ray diffraction pattern of as-milled powders reveals a broad peak typical of an amorph ous phase. The saturation magnetization of as-milled powders decreases with increasing milling time up to 30 h, then increases slightly over 30 h, while the coercivity exhibits an opposite tendency. Crystalline phases are obtained by annealing as-milled powders at 770-850-degrees -C for 0.5-10 h. A unique crystalline Fe3Sn phase is formed after 2 h at a high annealing temperature (850-degrees-C) which possesses a satu ration magnetization of 115 e.m.u. g-1.