Effects of Order-Disorder Reactions on the Magnetic Properties of Rapidly Quenched Fe-6.5% Si Alloy

Deposits of the Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy rapidly quenched by spray forming were investigated. The order phase can be either B2 or DO3 depending on annealing treatment conditions. The observation of pairs dislocations indicates the presence of super dislocations and B2 antiphase boundaries (APBs) which affects significantly the soft magnetic properties. The dislocations bound the APBS which yield δ fringes when image 200 superlattice reflections. Samples treated at 700oC for 1 h were oil quenched, this has induced a decreasing of power loss and the TEM micrographs have showed developed 1⁄4 antiphase domain structure in the B2 phase. The magnetic properties were: power loss of 1.59 W/kg and coercive force of 76 A/m, at B=1 T, f=60 Hz. The samples annealed at 1250°C for 1h showed the same interaction between the APBs but better power losses on their magnetic properties. The magnetic properties were: 1.30 W/kg power loss and 40 A/m coercive force, at same conditions described above. This suggests a strong interaction between magnetic properties and antiphase domain structure in the B2 ordered phase. Optical microscopy observations corroborate the magnetic measurement conclusions.