Magnetic and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline Fe-Ni-Nb-B Alloys

Abstract

The effects of Fe replacement by Ni on the formation of nanocrystalline structure and on the magnetic and mechanical properties were investigated in the series of (Fe1-xNix)81Nb7B 12 (x=0, 0.14, 0.25, 0.33 and 0.5) alloys. The analysis of phase evolution upon primary crystallization indicates that with an increase of Ni content in the samples the nanocrystalline grains exhibit transition from BCC-phase to a mixed state with coexistence of BCC- and FCC-phase and finally the FCC-FeNi phase is formed. The value of the Curie temperature of the amorphous phase, TC(am), increases with an addition of Ni. We show that a replacement of Fe by Ni results in an improved magnetic softness and it has a beneficial effect on the bend ductility of amorphous and nanocrystalline samples. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.