Effect of niobium additions on the structure and magnetic properties of equiatomic iron-cobalt alloys

The structure of equiatomic Fe--Co alloys containing 1, 2, and 3 wt.% Nb has been studied using a variety of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and differential thermal analysis. It has been found that Nb is effective in reducing the kinetics of ordering to the B2 structure and of anti-phase domain growth, even though the solubility is only 0.3-0.5 wt.%. The magnetic properties (coercive force and saturation magnetization) and the electrical resistivity of the three alloys have also been determined. Graphs, Photomicrographs. 17 ref.--AA