Nanocrystalline Fe88-2xCoxNixZr7B4Cu1 alloys: Soft magnets for vehicle electrification technologies

We report on the effect of substituting Co and Ni for Fe on the crystallization behavior, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Fe88-2xCoxNixZr7B4Cu1 (x = 0-22.00). The magnetization generally decreases and the coercivity increases with increasing x, whereas the Curie temperature of the amorphous phase increases significantly (from 73 degrees C at x = 0 to 570 degrees C at x = 22.00). There is thus an optimum composition near x = 5.50 exhibiting excellent soft magnetic properties at 300-500 degrees C. The higher magnetization and Curie temperature as compared with Fe-based alloys, and smaller Co content as compared with (Fe, Co)-based alloys, make this alloy attractive as an affordable high-temperature soft magnetic material. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.