Influence of annealing environment on microstructure and magnetic properties of amorphous Co75Fe5Zr10B10 ribbons

Rapidly solidified amorphous Co75Fe5Zr10B10 ribbon has been subjected to heat treatment at temperature of 300 °C for 10 min under three different atmospheric conditions, such as; air, vacuum and hydrogen-blowing atmospheres. Although no significant change in bulk structure of the ribbons was observed through X-ray diffraction analysis, substantial changes in surface microstructures are seen through SEM microstructural investigations. It is observed that the magnetic softness (coercivity, initial permeability, longitudinal permeability ratio [(Δμ/μ)%], sensitivity factor of (Δμ/μ)%, etc.) of the hydrogen-blowing atmospheric annealed ribbons is enhanced, compared to the as quenched, air and vacuum annealed samples. Moreover, a comparative study between these low temperature annealed samples has been reported.