Structure of a W-enriched phase in Fe–Co–Cr–W–Ga alloys

▶ A new phase is discovered in the system of commonly employed alloys Fe–Co–Cr with small additions of W and Ga. ▶ Its structure is identified and ascribed to the specification clause. ▶ Its role in the formation of magnetic and mechanical properties in the alloys after special treatment is suggested. Structure of a metastable W-enriched nanophase that is formed in Fe–Co–Cr–W–Ga alloys has been studied using X ray, electron microscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy methods. The phase is established to possess a body-centered-tetragonal crystal lattice with the lattice parameters а ≈ 2.96 Å, с ≈ 3.17 Å. The orientational relationships between its lattice and that of the matrix α-Fe based solid solution are determined. It is shown that the phase contains iron, tungsten, and plausibly chromium, being quite inhomogeneous in composition. Moreover, it is likely to be of a variable composition. At room temperature the phase is paramagnetic.