Influence of niobium on laser de-vitrification of Fe–Si–B based amorphous magnetic alloys
Laser annealing of Fe 77.5 Si 13.5 B 9 and Fe 76.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Cu 1 amorphous melt-spun ribbons was carried out. In both alloys, it was found that devitrification occurred, leading to the nucleation of a high density of refined α-Fe(Si) nanocrystals within the amorphous matrix. Interestingly, when laser processed under identical conditions, Fe 74.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 , and Fe 73.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 Cu 1 (FINEMET) amorphous melt-spun ribbons did not exhibit devitrification or copper clustering. Differences in the magnetic properties were observed, with the Fe 77.5 Si 13.5 B 9 and Fe 76.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Cu 1 alloys exhibiting higher saturation magnetization (M S ) and higher coercivity (H C ) values while Fe 74.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 , and Fe 73.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 Cu 1 alloys exhibited lower values of both these properties. These results clearly reveal the enhanced stability of the amorphous phase due to the addition of Nb in Fe–Si–B based melt-spun samples. • Laser annealing of amorphous soft magnetic Fe–Si–B–Cu–Nb (Finemet type) alloys • Coupled influence of rapid heating and cooling and solute elements on de-vitrification • Solute partitioning between nanocrystals and amorphous matrix during laser de-vitrification • Magnetic properties of laser annealed soft magnetic alloys