Formation process of the {001} fiber texture on iron particles using simple ball milling

Abstract The process of texture formation on iron particles was investigated via simple ball milling using graphite particles as milling aid. During milling, the shape of the iron particles changed from granular to platelets owing to repetitive compression and balls rolling in a direction perpendicular to the platelet faces. Simultaneously, a {001} + {111} double-fiber texture was formed, which is characteristic of a metal with a bcc structure deformed under uniaxial compression and multidirectional rolling. Based on these observations, it is concluded that the texture obtained through simple ball milling was induced by uniaxial compression and a multidirectional-rolling-like deformation. Since the main component of the double-fiber texture is {001} and the easy magnetization axes 〈001〉 are oriented toward the in-plane directions with the platelet face in the texture, the iron particles are ideal candidates for use as magnetic cores in motors, inductors, and other electromagnetic parts.