Dependence of the magnetic moment of iron nitrides on the presence of defect phase

Abstract The samples were prepared by nitriding iron powder in a mixture of H2 and NH3 at 700°C, quenching to liquid N2, milling, and annealing at 130–150°C. They contained αFe, γFeNx, α′FeNx, α″Fe16N2, and the defect phase. Their content was identified by XRD, neutron diffraction, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The magnetic moments measured in SQUID magnetometer were compared with those evaluated from the Mossbauer spectra.