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In recent years, Hydro-Québec's Research Institute has developed, through technological innovation, a program to improve energy efficiency in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy. Among the various projects, one was focused on the production of soft magnetic materials to improve the energy efficiency of distribution transformers. The aim of the project was to produce, by electrodeposition, free-standing foils or plates of amorphous Fe-P material having similar, or better, mechanical and low loss magnetic properties compared to iron-based amorphous alloys produced by rapid solidification. To meet this goal, an electroplating process was developed to produce a well-defined binary Fe-P amorphous alloy. The key electrochemical parameters, ancillary needs, critical monitoring and process controls were investigated. We succeeded in producing a fully amorphous soft magnetic material with very low power frequency losses and other advantageous properties such as a thickness range from 20 to 75 µm with a high production rate. Using thicker material, the production of stacked cores could be possible. In addition, electroplating offers the possibility of forming complex 2D shapes for rotating machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Hydro-Québec's Research Institute has developed, through technological innovation, a program to improve energy efficiency in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy. Among the various projects, one was focused on the production of soft magnetic materials to improve the energy efficiency of distribution transformers. The aim of the project was to produce, by electrodeposition, free-standing foils or plates of amorphous Fe-P material having similar, or better, mechanical and low loss magnetic properties compared to iron-based amorphous alloys produced by rapid solidification. To meet this goal, an electroplating process was developed to produce a well-defined binary Fe-P amorphous alloy. The key electrochemical parameters, ancillary needs, critical monitoring and process controls were investigated. We succeeded in producing a fully amorphous soft magnetic material with very low power frequency losses and other advantageous properties such as a thickness range from 20 to 75 µm with a high production rate. Using thicker material, the production of stacked cores could be possible. In addition, electroplating offers the possibility of forming complex 2D shapes for rotating machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]