Nanocrystalline FeCr alloys synthesised by severe plastic deformation -- a potential material for exchange bias and enhanced magnetostriction

TL;DR

This study explores the synthesis and detailed characterization of nanocrystalline FeCr alloys produced by severe plastic deformation, revealing their potential for exchange bias and enhanced magnetostriction due to their unique microstructure and stability upon annealing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel processing route for bulk nanocrystalline FeCr alloys and provides comprehensive insights into their microstructure and magnetic properties.

Findings

Nanocrystalline FeCr alloys remain supersaturated after annealing above 500°C.

Enhanced magnetostrictive properties are observed after annealing.

The alloys maintain a single-phase microstructure despite high-temperature treatment.

Abstract

This work gives insights into processing and characterisation of bulk nanocrystalline FeCr materials. The investigated FeCr alloys, consisting of 30, 50 and 70 at.% ferromagnetic Fe and remaining anti-ferromagnetic Cr, are processed by arc melting and subsequent severe plastic deformation by high pressure torsion. The physical similarities between elemental Fe and Cr in combination with the nanocrystalline structure of the as-deformed alloys, necessitates advanced characterisation techniques for the as-deformed state: In-situ annealing synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements as well as electron microscopy experiments are linked to magnetostrictive measurements and reveal a single phase microstructure. Surprisingly, the nanocrystalline FeCr alloys remain supersaturated solid solutions upon annealing above 500{\deg}C, meaning a decomposition in a FeCr nanocomposite is suppressed. For the chosen annealing conditions grain growth is faster than decomposition and enhanced magnetostrictive values are found compared to materials in the as-deformed state.