High saturation magnetization in Fe–0.4 wt% P alloy processed by a two-step heat treatment

•High saturation induction of 19 kg and high permeability of 3000 (higher than Si steel).•Simple heat treatment procedure.•Industrially scalable process.

Fe–0.4 wt% P alloy was processed by melting, forging, hot rolling with a subsequent two-step heat treatment and its magnetic properties were compared with those of non-oriented Si-steel. The sample heat treated at 1000 °C for 1 h followed by 500 °C for 30 min air quenched yielded a saturation magnetization (Bs) of 19 kG and a low coercivity (Hc) of 1 Oe. The soft magnetic properties obtained were correlated to the microstructure which showed nano precipitates of Fe3P in Fe matrix obtained by the two-step heat treatment procedure.