Structure, mechanical and magnetic properties of Co2FeAl Heusler alloy prepared by mechanical alloying
摘要
X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied to monitor the process of alloy formation during synthesis of Co2FeAl compound via mechanical alloying method. After 20 h of milling, the bcc solid solution was obtained, with an average crystallite size 23 nm, mean level of lattice strains 0.75% and microhardness 650 HV. In the obtained material, the beginning of a Heusler phase was observed and the powder was subjected to subsequent heat treatment. After isothermal annealing at 700 °C, the assumed Co2FeAl Heusler alloy with partially ordered B2 structure was successfully formed, without any secondary phases. Thermal process caused a slight increase in grain size (25 nm) and a significant decrease of lattice strains (0.3%). Both milled and annealed powders are soft magnetic materials as revealed by macroscopic magnetic measurements. The obtained Co2FeAl Heusler alloy is characterized by a high saturation magnetization value of 143 emu⋅g− 1, which is equivalent to a magnetic moment of 5.14 µB per formula unit. These results correspond well with the high value of the hyperfine magnetic field Bhf = 31.39(2) T revealed by Mössbauer spectroscopy for the Co2FeAl Heusler alloy.