Changing the magnetism of amorphous FeSiB by mechanical milling

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2010-07, Vol.22 (29), p.296010-296010
• Main Authors: Del Bianco, L, Spizzo, F, Tamisari, M, Bonetti, E, Ronconi, F, Fiorani, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amorphous and quasicrystalline magnetic materials; Condensed matter; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Domain effects, magnetization curves, and hysteresis; Exact sciences and technology; Ferromagnetism; Frozen; Magnetic properties; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic transitions; Magnetization; Magnetization curves, magnetization reversal, hysteresis, barkhausen and related effects; Mechanical milling; Nanocrystals; Physics; Studies of specific magnetic materials
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/29/296010

We have studied the magnetic properties of a sample obtained by high-energy mechanical milling from a ferromagnetic FeSiB amorphous ribbon. The milled material mainly consists of a Fe-based amorphous matrix embedding a minor fraction of α-Fe nanocrystallites (∼23%), and magnetization dynamics effects characterize the magnetic behavior. In particular, a magnetic transition occurs at T ∼ 50 K, from a low temperature disordered collective frozen state, similar to a spin-cluster-glass, to a high temperature regime where ferromagnetism predominates. The phenomenon has been ultimately ascribed to the local modification of the interatomic distance distribution in the amorphous matrix, induced by milling.