Synthesis and characterization of Mn2 B nanocrystals by mechanical alloying method

Abstract

In this study, elemental Mn and B initial materials were used to synthesize pureMn2B nanocrystals by ball milling. Milling experiments were conducted with highenergy planetary ball mill in a hardened steel vial with hardened steel balls,under Ar atmosphere at 40:1 ball-to-powder ratio and 300 rpm rotating speed. Assynthesized Mn2B nanocrystals phase structures and morphological/microstructuralinvestigation were analyzed by X-Ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electronmicroscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), respectively.Particle size of Mn2B were calculated as 34.5 nm by Rietveld refinement.Furthermore, the magnetic behavior of nanocrystals were determined by vibratingsample magnetometer (VSM). Mn2B sample shows ferromagnetic behavior at roomtemperature with saturation magnetization of 13 emu/g and coercivity of 90 Oe.