Mechanism and kinetics of crystallization of fe<inf>75</inf>ni<inf>2</inf>si<inf>8</inf>b<inf>13</inf>c<inf>2</inf> amorphous alloy

Abstract

Comprehensive multidisciplinary study of Fe75ni2si8b13c2 amorphous alloyinvestigated its thermal stability and thermally induced changes of electrical, magneticand mechanical properties and correlated them with microstructural changes. The alloywas investigated in 25-1000°C temperature range.Thermally induced structural transformations had been investigated using DSC andthermomagnetic measurements, revealing that the alloy exhibits Curie temperature, glasstransition, multi-step crystallization and recrystallization.Crystallization kinetics was determined, under non-isothermal conditions, to includethree processes, corresponding to crystallization of a-Fe, Fe3B and Fe2B phases,respectively. Microstructural analysis using XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy suggeststhat Fe3B acts as an infermediate in the formation of Fe2B.Microstructure was investigated on both the surface of the alloy ribbon and on thecross-section using SEM, chemical mapping and chemical depth profile to determineboth structural changes and chemical composition of the alloy after thermal treatment.Additionally, XRD spectra were analyzed to determine the change in microstructuralparameters of the alloy caused by thermal treatment and structural transformations.Functional properties were investigated using measurements of magnetic susceptibility,electrical resistivity and microhardness and these results were correlated with changes inmicrostructural parameters (average crystalline size, microstrain, lattice parameters) and phase composition, © 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.