THE MAGNETIC-BEHAVIOR OF NANOCRYSTALLINE FE76.5-XCU1NBXSI13.5B9

The structural and magnetic properties of Fe76.5-xCu1NbxSi13.5B9 alloy s for x = 2,3,5, which form a homogeneous structure of nanocrystals em bedded in an amorphous matrix, were investigated. The lattice constant of the alpha-FeSi nanocrystallites, magnetostriction and coercivity w ere measured for samples heat treated at different annealing temperatu res T-a < 540 degrees C. It was observed that T-a at which nanocrystal lization starts is strongly dependent on the Nb concentration. The dep endence of the magnetostriction on T-a is used to estimate the volume fraction of the alpha-FeSi nanocrystals.