Microstructure and soft-magnetic properties of FeCoPCCu nanocrystalline alloys

Fe83.2-xCoxP10C6Cu0.8 (x = 0, 4, 6, 8 and 10) alloys with a high amorphous-forming ability and good soft-magnetic properties were successfully synthesized. Saturation magnetic flux density (B-s) is effectively enhanced from 1.53 T to 1.61 T for as-quenched alloy by minor Co addition, which is consistent well with the result of the linear relationship between average magnetic moment and magnetic valence. For Co-contained alloys, the value of corecivity (H-c) is mainly determined by magneto-crystalline anisotropy, while effective permeability (mu(e)) is dominated by grain size and average saturation polarization. After proper heat treatment, the Fe79.2Co4P10C6Cu0.8 nanocrystalline alloy exhibited excellent soft-magnetic properties including a high B(s )of 1.8 T, a low H-c of 6.6 A/m and a high mu(e) of 15,510, which is closely related to the high volume fraction of alpha-(Fe, Co) grains and refined uniform nanocrystalline microstructure. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.