Microstructure of polycrystalline Fe sub(82)Ga sub(18) sample with solidification texture

Main attention of this paper was devoted to studying the effect of solidification texture on microstructure (phase constituents, grain morphology, and magnetic domain structure) of polycrystalline Fe sub(82)Ga sub(18) sample. The alloy was melted using button arc melting and solidified in water-cooled copper mold. Optical microscope (OM) results confirm the development of large columnar grains in the solidification microstructure. Phase constitution and magnetic domain structures of the sample were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Results show a single-phase solid solution with an A2 structure for the sample which consists of regularly aligned magnetic domains. Although some maze-like subdomains are found in few regions, well-aligned stripe-like domains are predominant patterns in the sample. It demonstrates the high dependence of grain morphology and magnetic domain structure upon a preferred crystallographic direction during solidification.