Role of magnetism in the formation of a short-range order in iron-silicon alloys

The formation of a short-range order in soft magnetic Fe-Si alloys depending on the annealing temperature has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. The B2-type short-range order has been observed in samples quenched from temperatures T > T C (where T C is the Curie temperature) with the content c Si close to the boundary of the two-phase region. Annealing at temperatures T T C and is fixed at quenching, whereas the D03-type shortrange order is equilibrium in the ferromagnetic state. The results reveal the decisive role of magnetism in the formation of the short-range order in Fe-Si alloys and allow the explanation of the observed structural features of the alloys depending on the composition and temperature.