High temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy on the phase dynamics in ferrosilicon systems

Abstract

High temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used for studying “in situ” the phase dynamics of the silicon rich part of the binary Fe-Si system. In particular the rate and mechanism of the transformation of the so-called zeta-alpha phase of iron disilicide to the zeta-beta phase is of special interest, since there still remains uncertainty about the stability and the structure of the phase in this system which influence material properties such as compressive strength and disintegration. In the present work the phase transition from the zeta-alpha phase to the zeta-beta phase is followed by a time sequence of Mössbauer spectra recorded every three hours at a fixed temperature around 800 K. The exponential precipitation rate is analysed and the exponent calculated. Samples with differing degree of impurities have been studied and the effect of aluminium impurities on the rate of the transition will be discussed. The Debye temperature of the two phases was determined from series of Mössbauer spectra recorded at temperatures between 300 and 800 K.