Reducing Oxidation through Multi-Technique Synthesis: Impact on Phase Purity of Fe-Sb Alloys via XRD and Microstructural Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37375/susj.v15i2.3721Keywords:
Fe-Sb alloys, Phase purity, Oxidation control, X-ray diffraction, Microstructural analysisAbstract
In this study, Fe-Sb alloy samples were synthesized using various processing techniques with the aim of reducing oxidation and enhancing phase purity. While samples S1 and S2 were prepared in a tube furnace under nitrogen atmosphere, sample S3 was synthesized using a vacuum-assisted current-heating method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a multiphase composition, with FeSb₂ emerging as the dominant phase in the S3 sample. Secondary phases such as elemental Sb, metallic Fe, and a trace amount of Sb2O3 were also identified. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the correlation between the synthesis environment, oxidation degree, and microstructural uniformity. The vacuum-based synthesis of sample S3 effectively minimized oxygen incorporation, resulting in improved phase formation and structural integrity. These findings suggest that controlled synthesis under vacuum conditions is essential for optimizing Fe-Sb alloy systems, particularly when targeting intermetallic phases like FeSb₂ with minimal oxide contamination.
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