On the glass forming ability (GFA), crystallization behavior and soft magnetic properties of nanomet-substituted alloys

•The PHS and PHSS were estimated for Fe83.3-x–(Si4B8P4Cu0.7)–Mx (M = Co, C, Mo) alloy.•The annealing temperature range for crystallization increased for the Co–C–Mo alloy.•The Msand Hcwere nearly maintained for the Co–C–Mo substituted alloy.•The required speed for glass forming decreased to 2000 rpm for the Co–C–Mo alloy. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of substitution of Fe with Co, C, and Mo on the glass forming ability (GFA), crystallization behavior, and magnetic properties of Fe–B–Si–P–Cu (Nanomet) alloy. The thermodynamic parameters, PHS and PHSS, were used to guide towards increased GFA. The PHSS enhanced from −2.04 kJ/mol for Nanomet to −4.83 kJ/mol for a Co4C1Mo1 (at.%) substituted alloy. As a result, the critical quench rate reduced significantly, manifested as a drop of the required rotational speed from 3000 rpm to 2000 rpm. The temperature interval between two crystallization peaks enlarged for the substituted alloy, allowing a broader annealing range for nanocrystallization. The saturation magnetization (MS) and the coercivity (HC) were nearly maintained. This work confirms the relevance of the parameters PHS and PHSS to improve the GFA of the Nanomet alloy, and it is suggested that the same strategy can be applied for other alloys.