Mechanical alloying process of Mn₁₂₅Fe₇₀P₅₀Si₅₀ composites revealed by XRD and XAFS

Abstract We have investigated how mechanical milling during 220 h affects the structure of Mn 125 Fe 70 P 50 Si 50 mixtures by means of X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure. The long-range order is maintained around the Fe and Mn atoms during the first stage of milling, that is, for 100 and 170 h, respectively. The Rietveld refinement of the Mn lattice gives a linear decrease in lattice parameter with milling time. In the subsequent stage of milling, the local structure around the Fe and Mn atoms has only the short-range order. The Mn 125 Fe 70 P 50 Si 50 composite is finally transformed into a homogeneous amorphous compound by alloying after the contraction of the crystalline lattices.