Magnetic properties and crystallization of Co68Mn10B10Si12 and Co58Mn20B10Si12 amorphous alloys

Co68Mn10B10Si12 and Co58Mn20B10Si12 metallic glasses were prepared to investigate their magnetic properties and crystallization. It was shown that when the Mn content was above 10 at.%, the amorphous alloy was paramagnetic whereas below 10 at.%, the alloy remained ferromagnetic. The addition of Mn also substantially altered the crystallization path of the Co-rich amorphous alloy, producing intermetallic phases such as Co2MnSi and CoSi2 during devitrification. In addition, the higher Mn content in Co58Mn20B10Si12 considerably delayed the onset of devitrification (∼100 °C) through more effective mixing Co and Mn atoms compared to Co68Mn10B10Si12. However, the crystallization in Co58Mn20 B10Si12 proceeded much faster, once it was triggered. The Mn addition had far reaching effects on the magnetic properties of the Co-rich glass as well as on the crystallization behavior.