Thermal effect on structural and magnetic properties of Fe78B13Si9 annealed amorphous ribbons

In the present work, we study the influence of thermal treatments on the magnetic properties of as-quenched and pre-crystallized Fe78Si9B13 after stress relaxation. The crystallization behavior of amorphous and treated Fe78Si9B13 ribbons was revisited. The measurements were carried out by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry, by X-ray diffraction and by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer, Susceptometer and fluxmeter. Relaxed samples were heated in the resistivity device up to 700 degrees C and annealed near the onset temperature about 420 degrees C for respectively 1, 3, 5, 8 hours. In as quenched samples, two transition points occur at about 505 degrees C and 564 degrees C but in relaxed sample, the transition points have been found about 552 degrees C and 568 degrees C. Kinetics of crystallization was deduced for all studied samples. Annealing of the as-purchased ribbon shows the occurrence of alpha-Fe and tetragonal Fe3B resulting from the crystallization of the remaining amorphous phase. The effects on magnetic properties were pointed out by relating the structural evolution of the samples. The magnetic measurements show that annealing change the saturation magnetization and the coercive magnetic field values, hence destroying the good magnetic properties of the material. The heat treatment shows that the crystallization has greatly altered the shape of the cycles and moved the magnetic saturation point of the samples. The effect of treatment on the magneto-crystalline anisotropy is also demonstrated.