Local Structure of Fe–Cr Powders Prepared by Mechanical Alloying

Abstract

We have studied the structure of Fe–Cr alloys prepared by mechanical alloying. According to X-ray diffraction data, all of the alloys are single-phase and consist of a BCC solid solution. The local structure of the alloys has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Analysis of the local environment of the Fe atoms leads us to assume clustering processes in the alloy containing 20 at % Cr and suggests that the alloys containing 35 and 50 at % Cr experience phase separation into regions of a homogeneous disordered chromium- enriched solid solution and an iron-enriched imperfect structure containing a considerable amount of dissolved gases.