Formation and magnetic properties of nanocomposite Fe-Al2O3 using high-energy ball milling

Abstract

Granular metal solids have been prepared by high energy ball milling of Fe and Al2O3, a method capable of producing large quantities of granular materials. Upon ball milling times of 50 h, grain sizes on the order of 100 Å have been obtained. The variation of the magnetic properties with volume fraction and grain size has been studied. Coercivities as large as 600 Oe (at 5 K) and 230 Oe (at 300 K) have been obtained.