Dependence of Magnetic Properties on Composition of Nanocrystalline Fe–M–B–Cu (M: Zr,Nb, Mo,Ti, Ta) Alloys

The specialized rf-Mössbauer technique is used to elucidate the magnetic properties of NANOPERM-type nanocrystalline alloys. The influence of alloy composition on the soft magnetic properties is studied for the Fe₈₀M₇B₁₂Cu₁ (M: Ti, Ta, Nb, Mo, Zr) alloys. The rf-Mössbauer experiments allowed us to distinguish magnetically soft nanoclusters from magnetically harder microcrystalline phases. The measurements performed as a function of the rf field intensity allowed the determination of the distribution of anisotropy fields related to the size distribution of bcc nanoclusters. Smaller anisotropy fields in the nanocrystalline phase were found in Nb-, Zr-, and Mo-containing alloys as compared with the alloys which contain Ti and Ta. The Mössbauer measurements were supplemented by X-ray diffraction determination of the size of nanocrystalline grains.     

Calorimetric study and Kissinger analysis of melt-spun DyMn6−xGe6−xFexAlx (1 ⩽ x ⩽ 2.5) alloys

Thermal properties of rapidly quenched alloys from the DyMn_6?xGe_6?xFe_xAl_x (1 ? x ? 2.5) series produced by melt-spinning have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC curves show two exothermic effects connected with crystallization processes. Crystallization temperatures and enthalpies ΔH have been estimated. The systematic changes in these parameters allow concluding that the crystallization exothermic events are independent. Effective activation energies E have been determined using the Kissinger analysis and relatively high values up to 480 ± 20 kJ/mol for DyMn₄Ge₄Fe₂Al₂ have been found indicating high thermal stability of the amorphous state in this alloy series.     

On the formation of the nanostructure in Fe80M7B12Cu1 (M: Ti, Ta, Nb, Mo) alloys

The dependence of the formation of the nanocrystalline bcc-Fe phase on the alloy composition is studied for Fe₈₀M₇B₁₂Cu₁ (M: Ti, Ta, Nb, Mo) alloys. The rf-Mössbauer technique is used to determine the optimal soft magnetic properties. This technique allowed us to compare anisotropy fields in each phase present in the composite alloys. The smallest anisotropy field was found in the bcc-Fe nanograins formed in Nb- and Mo-containing alloys.     

Nanogranular Phase Formation During Devitrification of Fe(NiCo)ZrB Amorphous Alloys

A comprehensive review of our recent experimental and theoretical developments in the processing of nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials made by crystallization of amorphous precursors and containing new nanocrystalline phases is given. The relationship between the structures of the metastable and equilibrium phases and their transformations are discussed. Nickel-rich amorphous precursors with stoichiometry Ni₆₄Fe₁₆Zr₇B₁₂Au₁ were produced by melt-spinning technique and then heat-treated at temperatures ranged from 420 °C to 600 °C for one hour to form nanostructured alloy. The transformation from the amorphous state into the nanocrystalline state was investigated by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the x-ray diffraction (XRD), the vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and Mössbauer techniques. The annealing favours the emergence of cubic Fe_xNi_23-xB₆ crystalline grains (10-25 nm in diameter). Magnetic measurements made at 4.2-1100 K reveal rather high value of saturation magnetization (nearly 60 and 40 Am²/kg at 4.2 K and room temperature, respectively) in amorphous as well as in nanocrystalline states. These facts are consistent with 300 K ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer results which are well supported by the calculations of Ni and Fe magnetic moments in Ni₂₃B₆ and Fe₂₃B₆ phases, using the spin polarized tight binding linear muffin-tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method. However, anomalous high magnetic moments of Fe and Co atoms were found in some inequivalent positions in the crystal structure.     

Magnetism influenced by structural disorder in melt-spun DyMn6 − x Ge6 − x Fe x Al x (x = 2.5, 3)

Different chemical and/or geometrical orders were found in melt-spun DyMn_6???x Ge_6???x Fe _x Al _x with x = 2.5 and 3 having fully amorphous and mixed (crystalline and amorphous) structure, respectively. Thermal variations in magnetization M from liquid helium up to room temperature for both samples are similar. Magnetization value at zero field cooled curve reaches about 0.1 μ_B per formula unit at 2 K and then increases. Two maxima are visible, the first at 50 K (a sharp effect) and the second very broad ranging from 150 to 200 K. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrometry investigation revealed a remaining magnetic component in addition to a prevailing quadrupolar feature. Application of a weak external magnetic field causes an increase in the mean hyperfine magnetic field B _hyp and the volume fraction of magnetic component. This observation was confirmed by results of M(T), M(H) and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. In short-range ordered crystallographic zones characteristic of melt-spun DyMn_6???x Ge_6???x Fe _x Al _x (x = 2.5, 3) alloys, the related magnetic ordering, called the mictomagnetism or the cluster spin glass appears.     

Soft Magnetic Nanostructure in Fe81−x Ni x Zr7B12 (x=10–40) Alloys

Hyperfine Interactions - Novel soft magnetic amorphous and nanocrystalline Fe81?x Ni x Zr7B12 (x=10–40) alloys with low magnetic anisotropy were prepared by melt quenching technique and...     

Mössbauer Study of the Soft Magnetic Nanocrystalline Fe81−x Ni x Zr7B12 (x=10–40) Alloys

Hyperfine Interactions - Formation of the soft magnetic nanostructure in amorphous Fe81?x Ni x Zr7B12 (x=10–40) alloys due to heat treatment is studied by the Mössbauer, DSC and...     

Amorphous and nanocrystalline Fe–Ni–Zr–B ribbons as sensing elements in magnetic field sensors

Fe_81−xNi_xZr₇B₁₂ (x=20$x=20$, 30, 40) melt-spun alloys were investigated as potential new material applied as a sensing element of a fluxgate-type high-sensitivity magnetic field sensor. The sensitivity of the magnetometer was increased by about 60% by using the amorphous or nanocrystalline Fe₄₁Ni₄₀Zr₇B₁₂ alloy, compared with a standard reference sensing material. Application of this material can also extend the temperature range of the operation of the device.     

Curie temperatures and crystallization behavior of amorphous Fe81−xNixZr7B12 (x=10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60) alloys

Curie temperature, crystal structure and crystallization behavior of amorphous alloys with the stoichiometry Fe_81−xNi_xZr₇B₁₂ (x=10–60) have been studied by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and AC-magnetization (TMAG) measurements as functions of temperature. The thermal stability of long-range magnetic order, T_C vs. Ni content in as-quenched amorphous alloys exhibits maximum at 352 °C for x=40. The primary crystallization has been detected during annealing at the first crystallization stage of all ribbons investigated.