Nanotwin-assisted nitridation in FeNi nanopowders for synthesis of rare-earth-free magnets

L10-ordered FeNi alloy (tetrataenite), a promising candidate for rare-earth-free and low-cost permanent magnet applications, is attracting increasing attention from academic and industrial communities. Highly ordered single-phase L10-FeNi is difficult to synthesis efficiently because of its low chemical order-disorder transition temperature (200–320 ℃). A non-equilibrium synthetic route utilizing a nitrogen topotactic reaction has been considered a valid approach, although the phase transformation mechanism is currently unknown. Herein, we investigated the basis of this reaction, namely the formation mechanism of the tetragonal FeNiN precursor phase during the nitridation of FeNi nanopowders. Detailed microstructure analysis revealed that the FeNiN precursor phase could preferentially nucleated at the nanotwinned region during nitridation and subsequently grew following a massive transformation, with high-index irrational orientation relationships and ledgewise growth motion detected at the migrating phase interface. This is the first report of a massive phase transformation detected in an Fe-Ni-N system and provides new insights into the phase transformation during the nitriding process. This work is expected to promote the synthetic optimization of fully ordered FeNi alloys for various magnetic applications.

Fe, Ni, Co, and Cu in FeNi alloys of H Chondrites

This publication presents the results of chemical analyses of 173 FeNi alloy grains from four selected H ordinary chondrites: Thuathe, Chergach, Gao-Guenie and NWA 4555. Based on performed analyses and calculations, the following average chemical composition of the FeNi alloy was determined [in wt.%]: Fe - 90.75%; Ni - 8.80%; Co - 0.35%; Cu - 0.03%. The content of Cu and Co depends on the nickel content in the FeNi alloy. The low-nickel alloy represented by kamacite is enriched in cobalt (average content 0.38%) and depleted in copper (0.01%), while the high-nickel alloy, represented mainly by taenite, is characterized by a low content of cobalt (0.08%), and a significant enrichment in copper (0.16%). Based on these data, it is possible to approximate the resources of these metals in the parent bodies of these chondrites. For example, for the asteroid (143624) 2003 HMi6, which is classified as a Near Earth Object (NEO), such resources are [in Mg]: Fe - 2.4 · 109, Ni - 2.3 · 108, Co-9.2 · 106, Cu-7.9 · 105.

Coupling FeNi alloys and hollow nitrogen-enriched carbon frameworks leads to high-performance oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc–air batteries

A dual-template strategy for facile preparation of a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst for high-performance rechargeable zinc–air batteries has been reported.

Effects of Cr Content on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlCoCrxFeNi High-Entropy Alloy

In this study, we investigated the effects of Cr content on the crystal structure, microstructure, and mechanical properties of four AlCoCrxFeNi (x = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0, in molar ratio) high-entropy alloys. AlCoCr0.3FeNi alloy contains duplex phases, which are ordered BCC phase and FCC phase. As the Cr content increases to x = 1.0, the FCC phase disappears and the microstructure exhibits a spinodal structure formed by a BCC phase and an ordered BCC phase. This result indicates that Cr is a BCC former in AlCoCrxFeNi alloys. With increasing Cr content, the alloy hardness increases from HV415 to HV498. AlCoCr0.3FeNi, AlCoCr0.5FeNi, and AlCoCr0.7FeNi exhibit a high compressive fracture strain of about 0.24 because of the formation of the FCC phase in the BCC matrix. Moreover, the highest yield stress of 1394 MPa and compressive strength of 1841 MPa presented by AlCoCrFeNi alloy are due to the existence of a nano-net-like spinodal structure.