The role of nucleating element additives in the crystallization and soft magnetic properties of Fe-Zr-B based amorphous alloys

Abstract
The role of nucleating additives (Cu, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Sb and, Ga) in the formation of nanocrystalline structure and in the improvement of soft magnetic properties is investigated in Fe86Zr7B6M1 type alloys by calorimetric (DSC), thermomagnetic (initial permeability) and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies. It is found that the nucleating additives lower the temperature of the first crystallization step and improve the soft magnetic properties due to the refined nanostructure of the crystallization products.