Local atomic configurations in mechanically alloyed amorphous (FeCoNi)70Ti10B20 powders

The atomic structure of amorphous (FeCoNi)70Ti10B20 alloy synthesized by mechanical alloying was investigated using high energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction and inverse Monte Carlo simulations of pair distribution functions. Empirical potential structure refinement indicates a chemical short-range order at the length scales of 2.1–2.5 Å via local atomic arrangements forming deformed bcc-like clusters. The structural model obtained was described by bond lengths, coordination numbers, and bond angle distribution functions determined for the first neighbor atoms by x-ray scattering supplemented with 3D Monte Carlo simulations. •Chemically ordering in the short range is consistent with the experimental data.•Deformed bcc-like clusters form the local atomic arrangements.•A clear tendency for clustering around B and Ti atoms, not observed for Fe, Co, and Ni.•Structural motifs are investigated in detail.