Structure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline soft ferromagnets

The structure and magnetic properties of soft magnetic nanocrystalline composites crystallised from amorphous ribbons are reviewed. The Fe-Early Transition Metal-Boron (Nanoperm-type) nanostructures are discussed in details and compared to the Si containing (Finemet) alloys. The nanocrystallization process was studied by calorimetry; the spatial dimension, the composition and the relative fraction of the bcc and the residual amorphous phases were investigated by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. A small fraction of Fe atoms (about 4%) was found which cannot be assigned either to the residual amorphous or to the bcc phase. It is suggested that the magnetic anisotropy of the bcc phase is decreased due to the dissolved Zr and B impurities. The Curie point and Fe atomic moments in the residual amorphous tissue are determined and compared to that of a macrosized amorphous phase of similar composition. The observed deviations do not scale with the average characteristic size of the amorphous phase and thus cannot be explained in the framework of the existing models. Magnetic dipolar coupling and tensile stresses between the grains of the different phases are suggested for explaining the soft magnetic behaviour of the nanostructures.     

Characteristics of the magnetic microstructure of amorphous and nanocrystalline ferromagnets with a random anisotropy: Theoretical estimates and experiment

An experimental determination (both direct and indirect) of the characteristics of the magnetic microstructure, namely, the ferromagnetic correlation radius R _f and the rms fluctuation of the mean anisotropy D ^1/2〈H _a〉, is performed for amorphous and nanocrystalline ferromagnets with a random anisotropy characterized by the quantities R _c and D ^1/2 H _a, respectively. The magnetization curves of amorphous and nanocrystalline ferromagnets are found to exhibit a dependence on H that is caused by the alignment of the magnetizations of individual magnetic blocks with the field.     

Advances in amorphous and nanocrystalline magnetic materials

Recent advances made in the area of amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys exhibiting high saturation inductions are reviewed. A new chemical composition was identified that achieves a saturation induction of 1.64 T in an iron-based amorphous alloy. This alloy, when used in electrical transformers, shows a much improved performance over the existing amorphous alloy. Nanocrystalline FeCoCuNbSiB alloys are found to have saturation induction levels reaching 1.7 T. These materials are suited for use in sensors and inductors carrying large currents. Some of these nanocrystalline alloys show a BH squareness ratio exceeding 90%, which can be utilized in pulse power devices. Recent developments in the applications of these materials are also pointed out.     

Long-term stability of soft magnetic properties of amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys based on iron

In the present paper long-term stability of magnetic properties of different amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys was studied. Magnetic properties were measured for annealed samples (300<Ta<900 K) directly after annealing and after long-term aging at room temperature. It was shown that for the Fe_75.3Cu₁Zr_1.7Si₁₃B₉ alloy magnetic permeability of the optimized samples is stable during 8 years aging. For Fe_86−xNb_xB₁₄ alloys the observed long-term instability (3 years aging) is due to annealing out of free volume leading to formations of small iron clusters coherent with the amorphous surroundings.     

The magnetic phase transition in amorphous ferromagnets and in spin glasses

The magnetic phase transition in materials with exchange disorder (amorphous ferromagnets, spin glasses) is discussed. In the critical temperature range the behavior of amorphous ferromagnetic transition metal-metalloid glasses is found to be similar to the one derived for a three-dimensional homogeneous Heisenberg ferromagnet. The most prominent difference between disordered and homogeneous materials is manifested in a large temperature range of deviations from the mean field behavior beyond the critical region, as observed experimentally for the temperature dependence of the linear susceptibility of amorphous ferromagnets and of the nonlinear susceptibility of spin glasses. A molecular field theory with correlations in space and time is developed, which relates the deviations from the mean field behavior to the interplay between the temperature dependent thermal correlations in the spin system and the spatial fluctuations of the material. Application to dynamical processes (kinetic critical slowing down) is discussed.     

The physics of amorphous and nanocrystalline hard magnetic materials

The magnetic properties of amorphous and nanocrystalline hard magnetic materials are summarized. The reduction of the “effective” anisotropy field due to exchange coupling in nanocrystalline materials is demonstrated. This leads experimentally as well as theoretically to a remanence enhancement and to a reduced coercivity. Also the domain structure shows the effect of exchange coupling. Nd–Fe–Al is taken as an example of a new “amorphous” hard magnetic material. For magnetostrictive materials the possibility of reducing the anisotropy in nanocrystalline samples without loosening the high magnetostriction is discussed.     

The influence of composition and field annealing on magnetic properties of FeCo-based amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys

We report the influence of composition and very high transverse field annealing on the magnetic properties and structure of four FeCo-based amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys. The compositions (Fe₅₀Co₅₀)₈₉Zr₇B₄ and (Fe₆₅Co₃₅)₈₉Zr₇B₄ were investigated changing the Fe:Co ratio from 50:50 to 65:35. (Fe₅₀Co₅₀)₈₅Zr₂Nb₄B_8.5 was chosen to investigate Nb substitution for Zr in an FeCo-based alloy. This substitution is shown to increase the magnetostrictive constant, _λS${\lambda }_{\mathrm{S}}$, of the nanocrystalline alloy from 36×10⁻⁶ to 54×10⁻⁶. The composition (Fe₆₅Co₃₅)₈₄Cr₅Zr₇B₄ was studied to investigate the influence of Cr on intergranular coupling across the amorphous matrix. Samples of each composition were annealed in the amorphous state at 300 °C and in the nanocrystalline state at 600 °C. Field annealing was performed in 17 T transverse field in an inert atmosphere. Frequency-dependent magnetic properties were measured with an automatic recording hysteresisgraph. Static magnetic properties were measured with a vibrating sample magnetometer. The mass-specific power loss of the alloys decreased with field annealing in both the nanocrystalline and amorphous states for some frequency and induction combinations. Furthermore, the hysteresis loops are sheared after field annealing, indicating a transverse magnetic anisotropy. The nanocrystalline (Fe₅₀Co₅₀)₈₅Zr₂Nb₄B_8.5 composition has a lower relative permeability than the other compositions.     

Magnetic spectra of amorphous ferromagnets

A model is proposed which explains the frequency dependence of the magnetic permeability in magnetically soft amorphous ribbons.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizikov, No. 7, pp. 27–30, July, 1986.     

Fast domain wall dynamics in amorphous and nanocrystalline magnetic microwires

We have studied the effect of thermal treatment on the domain wall dynamics of FeSiB and FeCoMoB microwires. It was shown that annealing in transversal magnetic field increases the domain wall mobility as well as the domain wall velocity. Annealing under the tensile stress hinders the appearance of the monodomain structure but application of tensile stress leads to the magnetic bistability having the domain wall mobility twice higher that in as-cast state. Further increase of the tensile stress reduces the domain wall mobility but the domain wall velocity increases as a result of the decrease of critical propagation field. Annealing of the FeCoMoB microwire by Joule heating leads to introduction of the circular anisotropy that favors the vortex domain wall. Such treatment increases the domain wall mobility as well as the maximum domain wall velocity.     

非晶和纳米晶软磁丝状样品的环向磁化过程

采用阻抗法测定了不同磁结构的软磁丝状样品(非晶及纳米晶合金)的环向磁导率随环向磁场 强度和频率的变化. 按照Chen等的理论公式计算了样品的环向磁化曲线，结果发现，这一实 验原理公式对具有较大损耗的磁化过程并不适用. 因此，将其发展给出了更一般情况下的理 论公式. 此外，通过分析复数磁导率对环向磁场的依赖关系，确定了两类不同畴结构样品的 不同的环向矫顽力机理. 研究了交流频率对磁化过程的影响. 关键词： 非晶和纳米晶软磁丝 阻抗 环向磁化曲线     

The structure and magnetic properties of amorphous magnetic thin films

A review of the structural and magnetic properties of amorphous ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic thin films is presented. An attempt is made to report structural information on atomic and microstructural scales, and to stress its relevance to the magnetic properties of these materials. The more obvious microstructural features of deposited films are not present in the other important type of amorphous magnetic material prepared by rapid quenching from the melt, and present opportunities for differences in structure dependent magnetic properties. In the main, three classes of amorphous magnetic films are considered. Ferromagnetic transition metal (TM) films which are metastable only at temperatures well below room temperature are discussed. Their importance lies in the fact that they clearly represent the most fundamental amorphous phase. Ferromagnetic transition metal-metalloid (TM-Me) alloys have potential applications as magnetically soft materials. These alloys are, perhaps, the most studied amorphous magnetic materials both in deposited thin film and rapidly quenched ribbon forms. Finally, amorphous rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) films are reviewed. They exhibit a wide variety of magnetic properties encompassing both extremely low and very high coercivities and also perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The possible application of these materials in various types of device has encouraged much detailed research into their magnetic properties. This has highlighted the importance of preparation conditions and microstructure in defining their properties.     

High-magnetic-field magnetization and magnetoresistance of some amorphous ferromagnets

Measurements of isothermal magnetization and magnetoresistance at T = 4.0-4.2 K and 15 ? H ? 132 kG on the amorphous ferromagnets Fe₈₀B₂₀, Fe₇₈Mo₂B₂₀, Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B₆, and Fe₃₂Ni₃₆Cr₁₄P₁₂B₆ indicate a relatively large H-induced increase (3.6%) in the high-magnetic-field magnetization of the latter alloy, and marked differences in the magnitude and sign of the high-field magnetoresistance of the four alloys. The results are qualitatively interpreted in terms of internal effective field distributions which include a small fraction of atomic spins in negative field sites.     

The influence of precipitates on the law of approach to magnetic saturation in amorphous ferromagnets

Within the framework of the micromagnetic theory of Kronmüller and Ulner we have calculated the influence of spherical precipitates on the law of approach to magnetic saturation in amorphous ferromagnets, taking the exchange energy fully into account. It turns out that in most materials the effect of precipitates is very small. Therefore precipitates cannot be responsible for the A/H_ext-term (H_ext denotes the external magnetic field) in the law of approach to saturation previously observed in the amorphous alloy Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B₆.     

Magnetoelasticity and effect of thermal phonons on the magnetic properties of ferromagnets

The experimental data for a series of ferromagnets are analyzed to determine quantitatively the magnetoelasticity-reduced effects of thermal phonons on the magnetic properties of ferromagnets. It is shown that thermal phonons have an anomalously strong effect on the magnetic properties of Invar iron-platinum alloys. The effect is governed by shear magnetoelasticity. Pis'ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 1, 33–37 (10 July 1996)     

铁基软磁非晶/纳米晶合金研究进展及应用前景

非晶合金通常是将熔融的金属快速冷却、通过抑制结晶而获得的原子呈长程无序排列的金属材料.由于具有这种特殊结构,铁基软磁非晶合金具有各向同性特征、很小的结构关联尺寸和磁各向异性常数,因而具有很小的矫顽力H_c,但可和晶态材料一样具有高的饱和磁感强度B_s.优异的软磁性能促进了铁基软磁非晶合金的应用研究.目前,铁基软磁非晶/纳米晶合金带材已实现大规模工业化生产和应用,成为重要的高性能软磁材料.本文回顾了软磁非晶合金的发现和发展历程,结合成分、结构、工艺对铁基非晶/纳米晶合金软磁性能的影响,介绍了相关基础研究成果和工艺技术进步对铁基软磁非晶/纳米晶合金研发和工业化应用的重要贡献.并根据结构、性能特征将铁基软磁非晶合金研发与应用分为三个阶段,指出了目前铁基软磁非晶合金研发与应用中面临的挑战和发展方向.     

射频溅射FeTaN纳米晶软磁薄膜结构和磁性

用射频反应溅射制备了FeTaN纳米晶软磁薄膜.研究了薄膜结构和磁性与制备条件的依赖关系.研究发现,当Ta的含量较高时,在N2+Ar混合气氛中易形成沉积态薄膜的非晶结构.适当的热处理后,αFe纳米晶从中晶化生成.薄膜显示出优良的软磁特性 关键词： 纳米晶 软磁性 非晶态     

High-temperature soft magnetic properties of Co-doped nanocrystalline alloys

In situ hysteresis measurements were used to follow the evolution of soft magnetic properties of various Co containing Finemet- and Hitperm-type nanocrystalline materials. This work is aimed at obtaining the proper chemical composition of nanocrystalline alloys, which can be applied for highest temperatures and is less affected by the inevitable decoupling phenomena, which is common to all two-phase nanocrystalline systems. Experimental results pointed out that in the Co-added Finemet-type alloys the decoupling temperature can be increased by about 50–70 K as compared to Co-free Finemet alloy. Hitperm alloys, close to equiatomic Fe/Co ratio, have much higher decoupling temperature, but their coercivity is an order of magnitude larger at low temperatures compared to the Co-free alloys so their advantage is evident above 400 °C only.     

Electrical and magnetic properties in Co-P amorphous alloys

Different anomalies in the Hall effect, electrical resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility of simple Co-P amorphous alloys have been observed. We show that the anomalies detected are due to a transition from “para” to “ferromagnetic” order. The transition, which is not well defined, suggests a large compositional inhomogeneity in the samples with high content in P.     

The complex initial permeability of some amorphous ferromagnets

The complex initial permeability of several amorphous alloy ribbons has been measured within the frequency range 10 kHz–5 MHz. The results were analysed by comparing them with the theoretical predictions of Bishop and from this comparison values for the mean domain size and the rotational permeability were deduced.     

Stress effect on the magnetoresistance of amorphous ferromagnets

To investigate the magnetization in amorphous ferromagnetic alloys we measured the change in the magnetoresistance (H⊥j and H 6j) simultaneously applying a tensile stress along the direction of the ribbons. With increasing stress we observed a complete alignment of the magnetic domain vectors M_s parallel andantiparallel (for λ_s > 0) or perpendicular (for λ_s < 0) to the stress axis. It is found that on average a value of σ_s = 10 kg/mm² is sufficient in all measured samples to produce this effect. The change in the magnetoresistance by stress annealing indicates that a preferred domain orientation in stress direction is induced.