Microstructure evolution and thermal properties in FeMoPCB alloy during mechanical alloying

Fe79.3Mo4.5P8.1C6.75B1.35 amorphous alloy composite powder from respective element powders of Fe, Mo, C, B, and Fe–P intermediate compound, was synthesized by mechanical alloying. Microstructure evolution analysis indicates that the synthesized amorphous alloy composite powder after a milling time of 70 h encompasses predominately amorphous matrix embedded by nanocrystalline α-Fe with a grain size of about 5.5 nm. However, unlike other Fe-based amorphous alloys, the synthesized amorphous alloy composite powder exhibits no obvious supercooled liquid region with only crystallization temperature. The corresponding crystallization onset temperature and exothermic enthalpy measured from DSC curves are about 762 K and 15.86 J/g, respectively. The results obtained provide good candidate materials for fabricating bulk metallic glass composites and related bulk nanocrystalline materials.