Effects of nitrogen addition on the microstructures and soft magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe86Zr7B6Cu1 ribbons

The effects of nitrogen addition on the microstructures and soft magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe86Zr7B6Cu1 ribbons were studied. It is found that the grain size of BCC α-Fe decreases from 13.2 to 9.8 nm with the increase of nitrogen content from 0 to 1.24%. The initial permeability increases from 1.2×104 to 4.4×104 with the increase of nitrogen content from 0 to 0.78%, and then decreases with its further increase. The relaxation frequency increases from 2.5×105 to 7.6×105 Hz with increasing nitrogen content from 0 to 1.24%. The mechanisms for the effects of nitrogen addition on the grain size, the initial permeability, and the relaxation frequency were discussed.