Surface oxidation and crystallization of FeNi-Based soft magnetic nanocrystalline and amorphous nanocomposite alloys

In this work, we present characterization of surface oxidation and crystallization behavior of Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite (MANC) (Fe70Ni30)(80)Nb4Si2B14 alloys via complementary x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. An adherent amorphous oxide of roughly 15-20 nm in thickness is observed on the wheel side of the ribbon, enriched in Fe relative to Ni and with significant content of Si and Nb as would be expected based upon a comparison of the Gibbs free energy of formation of the stable oxide phases. The amorphous character of the oxide is likely to result from the significant Si-content coupled with the amorphous and nanocrystalline character of the underlying metallic layer. Higher density of FeNi-enriched nanocrystals is also observed within similar to 100 nm of the wheel-side surface, presumably due to reduction in local glass former concentration. A rough, crystalline copper oxide layer is also present and forms through contact between the copper wheel and the solidifying melt during the rapid solidification process. On the air side of the ribbon, a crystalline oxide layer of similar to 15-20 nm is formed as well as intergranular oxidation that penetrates along the grain boundaries between highly textured surface crystallites of similar to 50-100 nm in size. The crystalline nature of the oxide on these surfaces is asserted to result from the lack of significant Si-content and the preexisting surface crystallites that form during the rapid solidification process which promote a crystalline oxide surface layer. These results shed new insights into the details of surface oxidation and can help to inform processing and alloy composition adjustments which seek to tailor surface properties. Published by Elsevier B.V.