CHANGES OF THE ANISOTROPY DIRECTION IN AMORPHOUS STRIPS DUE TO ANNEALING IN ABSENCE OF MAGNETIC-FIELD AND EXTERNAL STRESSES

An unusual change of the anisotropy direction is observed on square st rips of Co-based amorphous alloy of Metglas 2714A. This change is obta ined by annealing without any applied magnetic field or external stres s. The anisotropy direction moves from its original direction along th e ribbon axis to the transverse direction in the strip plane. This occ urs when annealing is performed above the Curie temperature. The effec t is analyzed through the characteristics of hysteresis loops toghethe r with measurements of complex permeability and magnetoresistivity and is discussed on the basis of the magnetoelastcic behavior of the mate rial and the different structural morphologies of the surface layers o f the ribbons.