On the nature of the remaining amorphous matrix after nanocrystallization of Fe77Si14B9 with Cu and Nb addition

✍ Scribed by A.Reza Yavari; Gordon Fish; Santosh K Das; Lance A Davis

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 344 KB
• Volume: 181-182
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0921-5093
• DOI: 10.1016/0921-5093(94)90875-3

✦ Synopsis

FeSiBNbCu amorphous alloys usually crystallize in two stages. The first crystallization stage for near-eutectic and hypoeutectic compositions corresponds to the nucleation and growth of a-Fe(Si) nanocrystals. The surrounding amorphous matrix in turn crystallizes in the second stage which occurs at high temperatures. We have measured the variations in the Curie temperature T c and crystallization temperature T x with composition of the remaining amorphous matrix after a-Fe(Si) nanocrystallization and found that the remaining amorphous matrix contains only 3-4 at.% Nb. Mass balance considerations then impose the conclusion that, contrary to some previous reports, the a-Fe(Si) nanocrystals still contain at least 1.5 at.% Nb. This conclusion is shown to be consistent with the lattice parameter and magnetic properties of the a-Fc(Si) nanocrystals.