LAUSR

Abstract xSc 2 O 3 -(1-x)α-Fe 2 O 3 (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) nanocomposite systems were successfully synthesized by mechanochemical activation of Sc 2 O 3 and α-Fe 2 O 3 mixtures for 0–12 h of ball milling time. Mossbauer investigations were performed to study the structural and magnetic properties of xSc 2 O 3 -(1-x)α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticle systems during the mechanochemical activation treatment. The Mossbauer studies showed that the spectrum of the mechanochemically activated composites evolved from a sextet for hematite to sextets and a doublet upon duration of the milling process with scandium oxide. Mutual solubility was achieved at the nanoscopic level only. A comprehensive Mossbauer study was performed by recording the recoilless fraction f as function of the ball milling time using our dual absorber method. The results obtained indicate that prolonged ball milling times favor formation of the Fe:Sc 2 O 3 non-magnetic phase and decrease of the grain sizes for both magnetic and non-magnetic components, leading to a maximum in the recoilless fraction followed by its decay.