Laser-induced thermal and spatial nanocrystallization of amorphous Fe-Si-B alloy

Site-specific nanocrystallization in an amorphous Fe-Si-B alloy was induced via laser processing. Site-specific transmission electron microscopy revealed a homogeneous nanocrystalline phase at the edge and partially devitrified microstructure at the center of the laser track. The diverse microstructures generated are due to different thermal histories developed during processing and the results are rationalized using a heat transfer based multi-physics model. The influence of laser-induced structural relaxation and crystallization events on the electrical transport properties are studied through resistivity measurements.