Influence of wet milling conditions on the structural and magnetic properties of Ni3Fe nanocrystalline intermetallic compound

Nanocrystalline Ni3Fe compound is obtained by dry and wet milling under argon atmosphere, using benzene as surfactant. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the Ni3Fe phase is formed after 2 h of milling followed by annealing (350 °C for 4 h). The mean size of the crystallites is 12 ± 2 nm for 40 h of wet milling. Iron and chromium contamination was evidenced by X-ray microanalysis. The increase in benzene quantity shifts the powder particle size distribution towards smaller particle size ranges. DSC analysis revealed the presence of benzene in the wet milled powders. Spontaneous magnetization decreases with increasing milling time and benzene quantity. Annealing at 350 °C for 4 h leads to a substantial increase of the spontaneous magnetization.