Alumino-Silico-thermic synthesis of high purity ferroboron alloy and its characterization

Characterization of ferroboron alloys by simultaneously quantifying Fe and B mass fractions and isotopic compositions of B by external particle induced gamma-ray emission method

“…Recently, the preparation of high-purity Fe-B alloys by a thermite process has been reported. 9 A low-carbon low-aluminium ferroboron (Fe-B) alloy is required for its ultimate use in making Nd-Fe-B alloy magnets for various applications. 8,9 The preparation of ferroboron with different wt% of B with minimum (<1%) metallic impurities was carried out by aluminothermic reduction of Fe 2 O 3 and B 2 O 3 with Al as the reducing agent.…”

“…9 A low-carbon low-aluminium ferroboron (Fe-B) alloy is required for its ultimate use in making Nd-Fe-B alloy magnets for various applications. 8,9 The preparation of ferroboron with different wt% of B with minimum (<1%) metallic impurities was carried out by aluminothermic reduction of Fe 2 O 3 and B 2 O 3 with Al as the reducing agent. The elemental analysis was performed by conventional wet chemical methods using ICP-AES/ ICP-OES analysis, and metallic impurities by XRF and ICP-MS are destructive in nature, which needs sample dissolution.…”

“…The elemental analysis was performed by conventional wet chemical methods using ICP-AES/ ICP-OES analysis, and metallic impurities by XRF and ICP-MS are destructive in nature, which needs sample dissolution. 6,9,10 The ion beam analysis technique, namely particle induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE), 11 which is sensitive to B, will be useful for the optimization of charge composition for achieving good slag metal separation and targeted composition of ferroboron alloys with the required wt% of B. PIGE will also be helpful to ascertain the B mass fraction in ferroboron alloys of different purity levels prepared by a metallothermic reduction process.…”

“…8 Different levels of impurities are present in ferroboron depending on the production methods, which restricts its use in high-technology materials such as Nd–Fe–B magnets and special-grade steels, where high-purity ferroboron alloys are used as alloying agents. 9 The Fe–B alloy is produced using H 3 BO 3 or B 2 O 3 instead of elemental boron, as elemental boron is costly. The production of Fe–B alloys by carbothermic and aluminothermic reduction methods introduces high amounts of residual C and Al, respectively in the final product.…”