Magnetic Properties and Phase Constitution of the Nanocrystalline Fe₆₅Pr₉B₁₈W₈ Alloy Ribbons

The aim of the present work was to investigate the phase constitution and magnetic properties of the rapidly solidified Fe₆₅Pr₉B₁₈W₈ alloy ribbons in the as-cast state and subjected to annealing. The base alloy was prepared by arc-melting of the high purity elements under the Ar atmosphere. The ribbon samples were obtained by the melt-spinning technique under a low pressure of Ar. The studies have shown an amorphous structure of the ribbon in the as-cast state and its soft magnetic properties. Annealing at various temperatures for 5 min resulted in an evolution of the phase constitution that caused changes in magnetic properties of the alloy. The crystallization behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. In order to determine the phase composition of annealed ribbons, X-ray diffractometry was used. The evolution of microstructure and phase constitution was verified by the Mössbauer spectroscopy. The magnetic properties were determined from hysteresis loops measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer in the external magnetic field up to 2 T at room temperature.