Influence of Magnetic Field Annealing Methods on Soft Magnetic Properties for FeCo-Based Nanocrystalline Alloys

Soft magnetic alloys have been widely applied to modern technology devices, such as transformer cores, choke coils and inductive devices. Magnetic field annealing can induce an uniaxial magnetic anisotropy K u [1-4] so as to improve the soft magnetic properties of alloys for the purpose of coping with different application requirements. So far, FeCo-based nanocrystalline alloys have been explored increasingly in order to improve the magnetic softness at higher temperatures[5-6]. Furthermore, the effect of magnetic field annealing on FeCo-based alloys is more pronounced compared with that of single ferromagnetic element composition [7-8]. Therefore, to explore the optimal magnetic field annealing method of FeCo-based alloys can effectively improve their soft magnetic properties to adapt to more strict application requirements at high temperature conditions. Magnetic field annealing of nanocrystalline alloy mainly includes three methods [9-11]. (a) The direct magnetic field annealing above the crystallization temperature of initial crystalline phase T x1 (magnetic field nanocrystallization). (b) Annealing above T x1 for nanocrystallization without magnetic field and then longitudinal magnetic field annealing below the Curie temperature of amorphous phase T c am. (c) After nonmagnetic field annealing above T x1 followed a magnetic field rean-nealing treatment under the same annealing condition. In order to achieve more superior magnetic softness of FeCo-based nanocrystalline alloys, the soft magnetic properties of nanocrystalline (Fe 1−x Co x ) 73.5 Si 13.5 B 9 Nb 3 Cu 1 (x=0.25,0.5,0.75) alloys under different magnetic field annealing were investigated.