Structural and magnetic investigations on the metastable phases of the mechanically alloyed Fe-Cu system

Attempts have been made to produce a solid solution of Fe100-xCux (x = 10 to 50) by the mechanical alloying technique at room temperature. A combination of X-ray diffractometry, electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetisation measurements has been used to characterise the alloys. Our results indicate that formation of the b.c.c. Fe-Cu solid solution is difficult up to a copper concentration of 20%. For higher copper concentrations, Fe-Cu solid solutions are obtained. The magnetisation and Mossbauer data confirm that excess milling leads to the precipitation of b.c.c. Fe from the f.c.c. solid solution. The Mossbauer studies also show the coexistence of a small amount of gamma-Fe for all compositions.