Effect of Co content on structure and magnetic behaviors of high induction Fe-based amorphous alloys

• The structural and magnetic behaviors of Fe based amorphous alloys have been investigated with the effect of Co content.
• The Co has no adverse effect on amorphization of alloys.
• A small amount Co causes the superior improvement of magnetic properties at elevated temperatures.
• Therefore, it is important not only for academic research but also for industrial applied research.

The replacement of Fe with Co is investigated in the (Fe1−xCox)79Si8.5B8.5Nb3Cu1 (x=0, 0.05, 0.2, 0.35, 0.5) amorphous alloys. The alloys are synthesized in the forms of ribbons by single roller melt spinning technique, and the structural and magnetic properties of annealed ribbons are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), B–H curve tracer, respectively. All as-cast alloys are structurally amorphous, however, their magnetic properties are varying with Co addition. The Co addition within 5–20 at% results in moderate thermal stability, saturation induction, Curie temperature and lowest coercivity, while 35 at% Co causes highest saturation induction, coercivity, Curie temperature and lowest thermal stability. On devitrification, the magnetic properties change with the generation of α-FeCo nanocrystallites and (FeCo)23B6, Fe2B phases during primary and secondary crystallization stages, respectively. A small amount Co is advantageous for maintaining finer nanocrystallites in amorphous matrix even after annealing at 600 °C, leading to high saturation magnetization (>1.5 T) and low coercivity (~35 A/m). The improved magnetic properties at elevated temperatures indicate these alloys have a potential for high frequency transformer core applications.