High-temperature magnetic behavior of FeCo-based nanocrystalline alloys -: art. no. 012401

The soft magnetic response of nanocrystalline Fe73.5-xCoxSi13.5B9Cu1Nb3 (x=0, 30, and 45) samples are analyzed above room temperature through the temperature evolution of the magnetic permeability and the associated loss factor. Moreover, the actual structure and composition of the crystalline phase is analyzed through neutron-diffraction studies. The results show that the inclusion of Co atoms give rise to an improvement in the soft magnetic behavior at high temperatures with respect to the Fe-based sample as a consequence of the increase in the Curie temperature of the precipitated crystallites. However, the role of the residual amorphous matrix cannot be disregarded and the decrease in its Curie temperature for the Co richest sample gives rise to a deterioration of the high-temperature soft magnetic response. The observed temperature evolution is analyzed within the framework of the random anisotropy model and associated with the temperature dependence of the magnetic coupling between the ferromagnetic crystals.