Improving the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 by heat treatment of the melt

The effect of the heat treatment of the melt on the magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloys, obtained by controlled crystallization of rapidly solidified ribbons, was studied by taking into account the inheritance of the short range ordering present in the melt. Previous viscosity measurements on liquid FeSiB alloys and X-ray diffraction results in the literature reveal irreversible changes that take place in the melt during heating. This behavior was assigned to temperature dependence of the short range ordering present in the melt. The crystallization of the amorphous alloy was investigated by DTA and X-ray diffraction. The influence of the melt heat treatment on the magnetic permeability, coercivity and saturation magnetostriction was studied. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.