FABRICATION OF Fe-Mn-Si ALLOY BY MECHANICAL ALLOYING AND DIRECT CURRENT SINTERING

Abstract

The results of a study of Fe-Mn-Si system for shape memory applications are reported .Fe, Mn and Si elemental powders with chemical composition of Fe60Mn29Si11 (at%) were mechanically alloyed for 30 hours by a planetary ball mill, compacted and sintered at 1027K. The composed phases were investigated and mechanical alloying repeatability was evaluated. The elemental powders formed into γ-FCC and ε-HCP phases after mechanical alloying, and eventually into γ-FCC phase after compacting and sintering, which indicates that the sample has possibility to show shape memory effect due to stress induced martensitic transformation. Furthermore, a presence of small amount of nano-sized phase was confirmed after mechanical alloying, which might influence the materials properties. It was observed that two different composed phases formed after MA for 20 hours even though the samples were produced at the same experimental condition settings but local manganese concentration and temperature difference might influence to this difference. It is suggested that mechanical alloying conditions have to be optimized.