Magnetostriction in glass-coated magnetic microwires

Abstract

The hysteretic magnetic properties of glass coated magnetic microwires depend on the magnetostriction constant: Co-rich microwires with negative magnetostriction constant present an almost non-hysteretic loop with relatively high magnetic anisotropy field up to around 8 kA/m. In contrast, Fe-rich microwires with positive magnetostriction show rectangular hysteresis loops with switching field depending on diameter of the metallic nucleus and the thickness of the glass coating. The softest magnetic properties, such as large magnetic permeability, are observed in nearly zero magnetostrictive alloys. It is then obvious that the experimental determination of the saturation magnetostriction λ s of glass-coated microwires is very important to predict their magnetic behaviour. Different methods for the determination of the saturation magnetostriction λ s of tiny glass coated microwires have been reviewed and compared in this manuscript. Small angle magnetization rotation (SAMR) method and change of the giant magneto-impedance spectrum under applied stress have been employed in nearly zero magnetostrictive in as-prepared and current annealed glass-covered microwires. The conditions of applicability of these methods to the microwires have been analysed, taking into account the domain structure expected for vanishing magnetostriction constant of the metallic nucleus. These different techniques give similar saturation magnetostriction constant values. Heat treatment results in a significant change of λ s.