Structural and Magnetic Properties of P Microalloyed Fe76Cu0.8Nb2.2B9Si12 Alloys

The development of Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys with high saturation magnetization (B-s), excellent magnetic softness and good manufacturability is highly desirable. Here, the effect of substituting 1 at% P for B and Si on the thermal stability, microstructure and magnetic properties of Fe76Cu0.8Nb2.2B9Si12 alloy has been studied in detail. It was found that replacing B with P effectively reduces the coercivity (H-c) of the alloy without deteriorating the B-s and permeability (mu). However, replacing Si with P has little effect on the H-c and B-s, yet significantly reduces the mu. The variation in the magnetic properties can be well understood from the evolution of the microstructure and magnetic anisotropy induced by P microalloying. The Fe76Cu0.8Nb2.2B8Si12P1 alloy with a good processing window, a high B-s of 1.41 T, a great mu of 29,000 at 1 kHz and a low H-c of 0.6 A/m is suitable for high-power electronic devices.

Automated summary

The substitution of P for B and Si in Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys has significant effects on the magnetic properties, with P substitution for B reducing coercivity and P substitution for Si decreasing permeability.