Effect of electric field on the crystallization process of amorphous Fe86Zr7B6Cu1 alloy

Abstract

The effect of an electric field on the crystallization process of amorphous alloys was studied by annealing amorphous Fe86Zr7B6Cu1 ribbons at 600°C for 1 h in the presence of an alternating current electric field. It is shown that the amplitude of the electric field strength has apparent effects on the grain size and volume fraction of the crystalline α-Fe phase. The grain size increases with an increase in the amplitude of the electric field strength. The volume fraction of the crystalline α-Fe phase increases with increasing amplitude of electric field strength from 0 to 104 V m−1 and then decreases with its further increase. The frequency of the electric field has no apparent effect on the crystallization process of amorphous ribbons. By analysing the mechanism of the effect of an electric field on the crystallization process of amorphous alloys, it is shown that the effect depends on the difference in conductivity between the new phase and the initial phase. When the conductivity of the precipitating phase is less than that of the remaining matrix, the use of an electric field can produce a nanocrystalline alloy with an ultrafine grain size.