Selected trends in new rapidly quenched soft magnetic materials

Abstract

Classical rapidly quenched nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials such as FINEMET, NANOPERM and HITPERM are seconded by new intensely investigated systems where special attention is put on materials with high saturation magnetization while preserving low coercivity. Diverse systems based on Fe-B with additions of Co, Cu, C, P and other elements were developed and tested. Successful compositional and processing design have lead to a new class of soft magnetic materials fulfilling these requirements based on Fe-Co-B, where the role of nanocrystal-forming element, namely nanograin size control, is taken up by Sn. Selected results will be presented on the case of rapidly quenched amorphous Fe-Sn-B alloy and its nanocrystallization by thermal treatment.