Papers by Keyword: Fe-Si

Abstract: Fe-Si alloys with various concentration of Al (0, 1, 3 and 5 % by mass) were synthesized by a spark plasma sintering technique. The specimens were prepared in an evacuated chamber of less than 4 Pa and under compressive stress of 40 MPa. During spark discharge, the heating rate was fixed at 10°C/min. After the SPS process was completed, the specimen surfaces were ground with silicon carbide papers. The metallographic characterization was performed by mean of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. According to sintering curves, all samples seem to have a similar sintering behavior. The densification of specimens was completed in the temperature range of about 1020-1050°C. Microstructure and phase characterization revealed that the alloys were mainly composed of FeSi₂ and FeSi phases containing oxide inclusions. The SEM images indicated that the fraction of FeSi phase and oxide inclusions appears to decrease with increase in Al concentration in the Fe-Si alloy.

Abstract: In the present research, nano-crystalline Fe­₇₀Si₃₀ alloy powders were prepared by mechanical alloying using Fe and Si powder as starting materials. Powder samples were taken from the mill at selected time intervals (5, 20, 40, 50, 60, 70h) for the structural properties analysis. The phase composition, morphology and magnetic properties of nano-structured alloy powders were analyzed by XRD, FESEM and VSM techniques, respectively. The evolution of non-equilibrium solid solution Fe (Si) during milling was accompanied by refinement of crystallite size. Dissolution of Si atoms into Fe matrix was also studied. The quantitative analysis of phase composition was carried out using Maud software which is based on the Rietveld method combined with Fourier analysis. XRD results showed a coexistence of BCC, DO₃ and FeSi structural phases for 40h milled sample, quantity of DO₃ and FeSi phases decreased for prolonged milling time. These phases disappeared in 60h milled sample and BCC FeSi phase with a mean crystallite and particle sizes of 20 and 70 nm were formed. The results also indicated that by mechanical alloying of the FeSi system for 60h, it was possible to extend the solubility of the BCC FeSi structure to 30 at% Si.

Abstract: Silicon-iron alloys with silicon content about 6.5wt.%Si offer a great potential for applications aiming reduction of core loss in electric parts. Deposits of the Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy produced by spray forming were annealed at temperatures between 400 and 1300oC, during 1h in vacuum. The grain size has a great importance to the magnetic properties. In the present work, it was analyzed the influence of the metallography parameters in order to get the best accuracy to determine the grain size according to ASTM 112-96. Chemical composition, time and temperature of specific etchings were modified and tested in different conditions of observation in light microscopy. Bright field, polarized light and dark field were used in the samples aiming to measure the grain size. The best etchings were Nital 10% and Marshall, both at room temperature. The results of grain measurement are presented in their relationship with the magnetic properties.

Abstract: Fe-Si alloys have excellent soft magnetic properties, specially around 12 at% Si. However, its industrial application is limited because of the lack of ductility, which causes cracking during rolling operations for the fabrication of thin sheets. The reason of the brittleness of the high silicon alloys is a disorder/order reaction at low temperatures. The aim of this work is to analyze the effect of the addition of Aluminum on the crystalline structure of Fe-Si alloys. Samples with a chemical composition of Fe88Si12 and Fe87Si12Al1 (at%) were prepared by Spray Forming. The structure was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer Spectroscopy. The presence of the DO3 and α- Fe phases were observed

Abstract: In the present study, Fe and Si powders (3:1 in atomic proportion) were mechanical alloyed and subsequently treated under different anneal conditions. The changes of phase composition and structure during the mechanical alloying and following heat treatment processes were mainly studied. The results showed that the XRD peaks of Fe were gradually broadened and weakened with the increase of the milling time associated with the shifting from low angles to high angles, and the main phase changed into α-Fe (Si) solid solution after milling for 20h. When the product was heat treated below 400oC, the main phase remained α-Fe (Si). While it was treated above 400oC, ordered Fe3Si phase was found and the XRD peaks of Fe3Si became sharper with the further increase of the temperature.

Abstract: The effect of Si and Al diffusion from a coating in the microstructure of electrical steels have been investigated for three different processing routes. In general the final texture is not affected by the diffusion of Si or Al from the coating whereas the grain size and mor- phology can be affected if the silicon content of the substrate is low enough to allow phase transformation. The gamma to alpha phase transformation caused by the diffusion of Si and Al determines the grain size and morphology resulting in columnar grain growth. The evolu- tion of the microstructures during the diffusion annealing for the production of high Si steels shows some common features with the microstructure evolution during the grain growth in conventional low silicon (Si < 3 wt.%) electrical steels.

Abstract: Deposits of the Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy produced by spray forming were annealed at temperatures between 900 and 1300oC, during 1h in vacuum and quenched in oil at temperatures between 300 and 700oC, separately. Magnetic properties, singular microstructure and random crystallographic texture were measured. After annealing at 1250°C for 1h under vacuum, the average grain size is of 500 μm, the grain orientation is random and the magnetic properties were: power loss of 1.30 W/kg, maximum permeability of 15400 and coercive force of 40 A/m, at B=1 T, f=60 Hz by using 0.60 mm thick rings for all studied samples. Higher annealing temperatures cause no decreasing of these properties. After quenched at 700°C, an improvement the magnetic properties where detected due to antiphase domain B2 growth. The magnetic properties were: power loss of 1.59 W/kg, maximum permeability of 12300 and coercive force of 76 A/m, at B=1 T, f=60 Hz.

Abstract: A grain growth simulation based on the concept of grain boundary migration driven by the radius curvature has been tested to study the abnormal grain growth (AGG) of the Goss grains in silicon steels in presence of particles. In the classical simulation of AGG, the grain size is generally assumed to be homogeneous. In order to introduce the influence of the morphological and crystallographic heterogeneities on AGG around the Goss grain, the simulation procedure has been implemented using as starting state an experimental microstructure characterized by Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIMTM). Abnormal growth results are compared for the two grades, Hi-B and CGO of Fe-3%Si alloys. It has been notably shown that the large grains resist AGG so that the Goss grain shape becomes anisotropic.

Abstract: After secondary recrystallization, the Fe-3%Si alloys, grade Conventional Grain Oriented (C.G.O.), exhibit a Goss texture that is sought for minimizing watt losses in transformer cores. The mechanisms of Goss grain formation and their evolution during the processing route from hot rolling to decarburizing such as the early first steps of abnormal growth are not still well cleared up. This work deals with the influence of local microstructure and texture heterogeneities observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) at the hot rolling step. The present results complete those previously obtained by neutron diffraction [1]. Presence of Goss grain colonies at about the quarter of the hot rolled sheet is probably, as it has already been suggested, at the origin of the Goss grain presence at the primary recrystallized state.