Glass-forming ability and soft magnetic properties of (Co0.6Fe0.3Ni0.1)67B22+xSi6−xNb5 bulk glassy alloys

The glass-forming ability (GFA) and soft-magnetic properties of (Co0.6Fe0.3Ni0.1)67B22+xSi6−xNb5 (x = 0–1.5) bulk glassy alloys was investigated. The DSC curves show that the (Co0.6Fe0.3Ni0.1)67B22+xSi6−xNb5 bulk glassy alloys have a wide supercooled liquid region (ΔTx) of about 60 K, and high reduced glass transition temperature (Tg/Tl) lies in the range from 0.628 to 0.649. By copper mold casting method, the bulk glassy alloys with diameters up to 4.5 mm can be formed. In addition to high GFA, the Co-based bulk glassy alloys also exhibit good soft-magnetic properties, i.e., saturation magnetization of 0.58–0.61 T, low coercive force of 0.83–1.46 A/m, and high permeability of (1.79–2.2) × 104 at 1 kHz under a field of 1 A/m. These Co-based bulk glassy alloys are promising for future applications as a new structural and functional material.

Research highlights
► (Co0.6Fe0.3Ni0.1)67B22+xSi6−xNb5 bulk glassy alloys with diameters up to 4.5 mm can be formed.
► The alloy composition was optimized by modifying the B to Si concentration.
► The Co-based bulk glassy alloys exhibit good soft magnetic properties.
► The saturation magnetization, the coercive force and the effective permeability is 0.58–0.61 T, 0.83–1.46 A/m and (1.79–2.2) × 104.