Soft-mechanochemical synthesis of Fe–B amorphous nanoparticles for the preparation of Fe–B nanoglass

Synthesis of high-purity and ultrafine amorphous nanoparticles (AmN) is critical for nanoglass fabrication. Herein, high-purity Fe$_{67}$B$_{33}$ AmN with an average particle size of ∼12.5 nm were synthesized for the first time via a soft-mechanochemical method. These AmN were consolidated into a partially dense Fe–B nanoglass with a crystallization temperature of ∼450 °C. Nanoindentation tests reveal that the nanoglass has an average hardness of 6.6 ± 0.3 GPa and an elastic modulus of 114 ± 4 GPa, and undergoes homogeneous deformation without shear band formation. This work demonstrates the soft-mechanochemical method as a promising route for preparing ultrafine AmN for nanoglass fabrication.