Influence of Ni substitution for B on crystallization behavior, microstructure and magnetic properties of FeBCu alloys

Abstract The crystallization, microstructure and magnetic properties of Fe 83 Ni x B 16− x Cu 1 ( x  = 0, 1, 2, 4) alloys are investigated by Mossbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and magnetometry. The substitution of Ni for B in the Fe 83 B 16 Cu 1 alloy enriches Fe clusters in melt-spun ribbons and promotes the nucleation of α-Fe(Ni), which is beneficial to the formation of high volume fraction of nanocrystals after crystallization. Furthermore, the addition of 1–2 at.% Ni widens the annealing temperature range for the alloys with low H C . Excellent magnetic properties with high saturation magnetic flux density ( B S ) of 1.83 T and low coercivity ( H C ) of 9.2 A/m are obtained by annealing the Fe 83 Ni 2 B 14 Cu 1 melt-spun ribbons. In addition, the nanocrystalline alloy with x  = 2 possesses a lower saturation magnetostriction (19 ppm) than that of the Ni-free alloy (25 ppm).