Bulk Synthesis of Fe3Al Intermetallic Compound Nanoparticles by Flow-Levitation Method

Abstract

Metallic nanopowders have an increasing application in magnetic materials, catalysts and chemical and metallic industries. In this research, a novel bulk synthesis method for preparing high pure intermetallic Fe 3 Al nanoparticles was developed by flow-levitation (FL) method. The Fe and Al vapors ascending from the high-temperature levitated droplet were condensed by cryogenic argon gas under atmospheric pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) were used to identify and characterize the prepared nanopowders exhibiting a Fe 3 Al phase. Measurement of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the Fe 3 Al particles are nearly spherical, and the particle size of the compound ranges from 10 nm to 200 nm in diameter. The chemical composition of the nanoparticles were determined with energy dispersive spectrometer. The magnetic properties of the nanopowder indicate that Fe 3 Al intermetallic compound is a soft magnet at room temperature, with coercivity of 24.2 Oe and saturation magnetization of 173.2 emu/g. The production rate of Fe 3 Al nanoparticles was estimated to be about 4 g/h in a continuous manner, by using the FL method. This method has great potential in mass production of Fe 3 Al nanoparticles.