Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2016) 131: 153
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2016-16153-0

Regular Article

Morphology, structural and thermal characterization of nanocrystalline Ni₅₀Cu₃₀(Fe₂B)₁₀P₁₀ powders prepared by mechanical alloying

¹ Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique, université de Sfax, B.P. 1171, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
² Dep. de Fisica, Universitat de Girona, 17071, Girona, Spain

^* e-mail: msrammeh@yahoo.fr

Received: 9 November 2015
Accepted: 3 April 2016
Published online: 18 May 2016

Abstract

The mechanical alloying process has been used to prepare nanocrystalline Ni₅₀Cu₃₀(Fe₂B)₁₀P₁₀ alloy from powder mixture. The transformations occurring in the material during milling were studied with the use of X-ray diffraction. In addition, lattice microstrain, average crystallite size, dislocation density and the lattice parameter were determined. The patterns so obtained were analyzed using the Maud program. The final product of the mechanical alloying process after 30h of milling was nanocrystalline Ni, Cu₃P and Fe₂B phases with a mean crystallite size in the range of a few nanometers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the morphology of the samples as a function of milling times. Thermal behaviour of the milled powders was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).