Effect of Ti, V, Cr, and Mn additions on the magnetic properties of a nanocrystalline soft magnetic Fe–Zr–B alloy with high magnetic flux density

The effect of the addition of Ti, V, Cr, and Mn on the magnetic properties of a nanocrystalline soft magnetic Fe–Zr–B alloy has been investigated. The addition of the elements increases both the crystallization temperature and the grain size of α-Fe. After crystallization, these elements are observed in both the α-Fe grains and the residual amorphous matrix. It has been found that V is a useful element to control magnetostriction by keeping the saturation magnetic flux density ${\mathrm{(B}}_s)$ high. The simultaneous addition of V and Mn increases $B_s.$ The alloys with high $B_s,$ above 1.75 T, show good soft magnetic properties as well; the ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{90}}{\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{3}}$ alloy exhibits high $B_s$ of 1.75 T and high permeability ${\mathrm{(\mu }}_e)$ of 31 000, and the ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{89.5}}{\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{0.5}}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{3}}$ alloy exhibits high $B_s$ of 1.78 T and high ${\mu }_e$ of 23 000. These high $B_s$ values are almost the same as that of a Fe-6.5 wt % Si alloy. The alloys also exhibit low core loss. Therefore, nanocrystalline Fe–V–(Mn)–Zr–B alloys are expected to be applied to power electronic devices such as power transformers.