Asynchronous responses of mechanical and magnetic properties to structure relaxation for FeNbB bulk metallic glass

Abstract

Asynchronous responses of mechanical and magnetic properties to structure relaxation for the Fe71Nb6B23 bulk metallic glass were systematically investigated. It is interesting that this ternary alloy can combinedly exhibit outstanding magnetic and mechanical properties, especially good ductility, after optimally annealing in structure relaxation stage for eliminating the internal stress and homogenizing the microstructure. The alloy exhibits low coercive force of 1.6 A/m, high effective permeability of 15 × 103, high fracture strength of 4.2 GPa and good plastic strain of 1.8%. It is also found that responses of mechanical and magnetic properties to structure relaxation are asynchronous. The glass transition and crystallization will greatly deteriorate the magnetic and mechanical properties. Here we propose a physical picture and demonstrate that the primary structure factors determining magnetic and mechanical properties are different. This work will bring a promising material for application and a new perspective to study the effect of annealing-induced structure relaxation on mechanical and magnetic properties.