Magnetization, coercivity, and remanence in amorphous terbium–iron metalloid alloys

Crystalline terbium–iron compounds generate large magnetostrictive strains but for practical application require relatively large fields to overcome magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Their amorphous counterparts are magnetically softer and yet potentially useful magnetostrictive strains are still exhibited due to the presence of the Tb ions. As part of our investigation into the origins and magnitudes of the magnetostriction in amorphous rare earth–iron alloys, their magnetic properties have been subjected to close examination. Melt-spun ribbons of TbFe2 containing between 3 and 14 at. % boron were prepared and shown to be amorphous (>6 at. % B). The field and temperature dependences of magnetization have been measured in the region 4.5 K