APPLICATIONS OF NANOCRYSTALLINE SOFT-MAGNETIC FE-M-B (M = ZR, NB) ALLOYS

We have succeeded in the development of new nanocrystalline soft magne tic Fe-M-B (M=Zr, Hf, Nb) alloys with high saturation magnetic flux de nsity (B-s) above 1.5 T as well as excellent soft magndtic properties. For example, the alloys show high permeability (mu(e)) of 16 x 10(4) at 1 kHz, highB(s) of 1.57 T and zero-magnetostriction, simultaneously . In this paper, we report on the performance of toroidal cores with a gap, common mode choke coils and pulse transformers. The excellent ch aracteristics of the components were found in conjunction with very lo w core losses, sufficient thermal stability and low stress sensitivity for magnetic properties. The nanocrystalline Fe-M-B based alloys are, therefore, expected to be used for many kinds of magnetic components. (C) 1998 Acta Metallurgica Inc.