Magnetic properties of Co-Fe-B-Si-Nb bulk glassy alloy with zero magnetostriction

The glass forming ability and magnetic properties of a Co-B-Si-Nb glassy alloy have been investigated. The maximum rod diameters for the formation of a glassy phase were 1.5 mm for Co70B20Si8Nb2 and 3 mm for Co70B22Si6Nb4. Zero-magnetostriction bulk metallic glass samples of (Co0.952Fe0.058)(70)B20Si8Nb2 were prepared in cylindrical form with a diameter of 1.5 mm and in ring form with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The (Co0.952Fe0.058)(70)B20Si8Nb2 glassy alloy samples exhibited a high glass forming ability and good soft magnetic properties, i.e., a saturation magnetization of 0.6 T, a low coercivity within 0.1-0.2 A/m, and a high permeability of 104 000 at a frequency of 1 kHz and zero magnetostriction. The success of the synthesis of the zero-magnetostriction Co-Fe-B-Si-Nb glassy alloy with good soft magnetic properties and a high glass forming ability is promising for the future development of sensitive magnetic sensors. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.