Nanocrystallization process in FeCuNbSiB based alloys

The influence of different heat treatments on the nanocrystallization behavior of Fe77.5Cu1Nb3Si9.5B9 amorphous alloys was investigated using different techniques. The microstructural studies have been correlated with the results obtained by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis under magnetic field measurements (TGM). From XRD, the mean crystallite size when annealing at different temperatures for different times, was evaluated and the values are in agreement with those obtained from the TEM. The progress of primary crystallization followed by isothermal DSC indicates that the transformation to the nanophase microstructure involves nucleation and growth, in agreement with the overall grain size distributions obtained from TEM examination. The enhancement found in the Curie temperature of the amorphous matrix should be due to the interaction with the Ferromagnetic particles with higher Curie temperature.