Phases and phase stabilities of Fe[sub 3][ital X] alloys ([ital X]=Al, As, Ge, In, Sb, Si, Sn, Zn) prepared by mechanical alloying

Mechanical alloying with a Spex 8000 mixer/mill was used to prepare several alloys of the Fe[sub 3][ital X] composition, where the solutes [ital X] were from groups IIB, IIIB, IVB, and VB of the periodic table. Using x-ray diffractometry and Moessbauer spectrometry, we determined the steady-state phases after milling for long times. The tendencies of the alloys to form the bcc phase after milling are predicted well with the modified usage of a Darken--Gurry plot of electronegativity versus metallic radius. Thermal stabilities of some of these phases were studied. In the cases of Fe[sub 3]Ge and Fe[sub 3]Sn, there was the formation of transient [ital D]0[sub 3] and [ital B]2 order during annealing, although this ordered structure was replaced by equilibrium phases upon further annealing.