Effect of thermal treatments below devitrification temperature on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in mechanically alloyed Fe70Zr30 powders

In this work, the relaxation of the amorphous structure of mechanically alloyed Fe70Zr30 powders has been analyzed through interrupted heating ramps below the devitrification temperature. As a result of such thermal treatment, Curie temperature and temperature at maximum magnetic entropy change curves shift to higher temperatures as the temperature of heating treatment increases. This effect can be attributed to both the release of the stress accumulated in the amorphous powder during the milling process and to the initiation of nucleation of alpha-Fe crystallites, as it has been shown by Mo center dot ssbauer spectroscopy.

Automated summary

In this study, the relaxation of the amorphous structure of mechanically alloyed Fe70Zr30 powders was analyzed through interrupted heating ramps below the devitrification temperature. The thermal treatment resulted in a shift of the Curie temperature and the temperature at maximum magnetic entropy change curves to higher temperatures, which can be attributed to both the release of accumulated stress in the amorphous powder and the initiation of nucleation of alpha-Fe crystallites.