Fe-based bulk amorphous soft magnetic materials

Fe-based bulk amorphous materials have no crystal anisotropy. This is why they are good candidates for the application as soft magnetic materials, although conventional soft magnetic alloys have a higher saturation magnetization than the amorphous alloys. An Fe 65.5Cr 4Mo 4Ga 4P 12C 5B 5.5 alloy shows, together with excellent soft magnetic behaviour, a very high mechanical strength and a high resistance against corrosion which may be important for application as magnetic parts in valves, clutches, or relays. Fe 77Al 2.14Ga 0.86P 8.4C 5B 4Si 2 bulk amorphous materials were prepared by the powder-metallurgical technology. This technological route allows to prepare samples of larger dimensions. Furthermore, active powders, e.g. high magnetostrictive Fe 2Sm-powder, may be added to the powder. Thus, composites with high magnetostrictive response and high mechanical strength may be prepared profiting from the low processing temperature.