Magnetic and mechanical properties in FeXSiB (X=Cu, Zr, Co) amorphous alloys

Purpose: The idea of the paper is to study the influence of different alloying additions (Cu, Zr, Nb) on structural relaxation, crystallization, and improvement of soft magnetic properties in amorphous alloys of the type FeXSiB obtained by melt spinning technique. Design/methodology/approach: Magnetic and electric characteristics of the as quenched and successively annealed samples were determined at room temperature. Experiments were carried out by applying magnetic permeability measurements (Maxwell-Wien bridge), magnetic after effects, resistivity (four points probe), magnetostriction coefficient (infrared optical sensor) and magnetization (magnetic balance and fluxmeter). Findings: It was shown that soft magnetic properties of the examined alloys can be optimized by applying 1-h annealing at a specific temperature. The process of the improvement of soft magnetic properties is found to be diffusion controlled. The Arrhenius parameters of this process were determined by applying magnetic measurements. Research limitations/implications: The obtained results are a part of a broad area of examinations devoted to establishing of the influence of different alloying additions and thermal annealing on soft magnetic properties of amorphous alloys obtained by melt spinning technique. Practical implications: The examined alloys belong to a modern group of soft magnetic materials, which can be used as core transformers, magnetic sensors, shields of magnetic, electric and electromagnetic fields etc. The obtained results may be used for preparing soft magnetic ribbons for specific applications. Originality/value: The originality of the paper lies in examination of the improvement of soft magnetic properties effect as a diffusion-controlled process. The influence of different alloying additions on the course of this process is well established.