A structural investigation of SmCo5/Fe nanostructured alloys obtained by high-energy ball milling and subsequent annealing

International audienceSmCo 5 /Fe nanostructured alloys with 20 wt% Fe, obtained by high energy ball milling of SmCo 5 and Fe powders, were investigated by 57 Fe Mössbauer spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and tomographic atom probe. The Mössbauer analysis reveals that during the first stages of milling, an interdiffusion of Co and Fe occurs, leading both to the formation of α-Fe(Co) regions in α-Fe and to the introduction of Fe in SmCo 5 regions. Annealing at temperatures up to 650°C for 0.5h promotes interdiffusion further leading to the formation of an unique α-Fe(Co) phase and a Fe-richer Sm(Co, Fe) 5 phase. The Co/Fe interdiffusion is confirmed by tomographic atom probe analysis. The data are discussed and compared to the results of previous magnetic measurements