Nanocrystalline FeCr alloys synthesised by severe plastic deformation – A potential material for exchange bias and enhanced magnetostriction

This work gives insights into processing and characterisation of bulk nanocrystalline FeCr materials. The investigated alloys, consisting 30, 50 70 at.% ferromagnetic Fe remaining anti-ferromagnetic Cr, are processed by arc melting subsequent severe plastic deformation high pressure torsion. physical similarities between elemental Cr in combination with the structure as-deformed necessitates advanced techniques for state: In-situ annealing synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements as well electron microscopy experiments linked to magnetostrictive reveal a single phase microstructure. Surprisingly, alloys remain supersaturated solid solutions upon above 500{\deg}C, meaning decomposition nanocomposite is suppressed. For chosen conditions grain growth faster than enhanced values found compared materials state.