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Multi-alloying of nanomet: conception and implementation of homogeneous nanocrystallization in high-flux density soft magnetic alloys

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Abstract

This study demonstrates how multi-alloying the Fe-Si–B–P–Cu (Nanomet®) can avoid the strict requirements on the annealing scheme in terms of high heating rate and narrow annealing temperature range in order to grow a homogeneous ultrafine nanocrystalline structure. The rather restricted amorphization capability sets a low limit of the maximum thickness of the amorphous precursor. These shortcomings have their origin in the existence of detrimental pre-existing nuclei in the amorphous precursors, which in turn potentially lead to a heterogeneous crystallization. Here, we have multialloyed Nanomet with CoCNi- and CoCMo- to avoid the creation of these pre-existing nuclei. This leads to improved amorphization capability and changes a potentially heterogeneous crystallization to a homogeneous nanocrystallization over a much broader temperature range than for unalloyed Nanomet. Thus, the requirements for the annealing are much relaxed. This work encompasses quenching the amorphous precursors using melt-spinning, investigating the crystallization temperatures by calorimetry, showing the depletion of pre-existing nuclei by magneto-thermo-gravimetry, conceptualizing the crystallization dynamics using isothermal calorimetry, and finally revealing the excellent soft magnetic properties over a broad annealing temperature interval (390–490 °C for the substituted alloys compared to 410–470 °C for unalloyed Nanomet). The multi-elemental substitution of Fe with CoCMo and CoCNi in Nanomet alloy nearly maintains the saturation magnetization and the coercivity. We believe the substituted alloys provide a better alternative to Nanomet with improved amorphization capability and homogeneous nanocrystallization without any special heat treatment scheme.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to express our gratitude towards Dr. A. Memarpour from Höganäs AB for the provision of raw materials and financial support from the Carl-Tryggers foundation. E. Dastanpour acknowledges the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) for the financial support for a research visit in Stockholm, Sweden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111, Isfahan, Iran

    E. Dastanpour & M. H. Enayati

  2. Department Materials Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    E. Dastanpour & V. Ström

  3. Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork (UCC), Lee Maltings, Dyke Parade, Cork, T12 R5CP, Ireland

    A. Masood

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  1. E. Dastanpour
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Correspondence to E. Dastanpour.

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Dastanpour, E., Masood, A., Enayati, M.H. et al. Multi-alloying of nanomet: conception and implementation of homogeneous nanocrystallization in high-flux density soft magnetic alloys. J Mater Sci 56, 10124–10134 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-05944-9

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