Stress relief and magnetic properties of magnetostrictive Fe79B16Si5 amorphous magnetic ribbons

The in-plane magnetic anisotropy constant and surface magnetization curves have been measured for magnetostrictive Fe79B16Si5 amorphous ribbon in the as-quenched state and after two isothermal annealing treatments. The variat ion of the residual stress distribution with the thermal treatments has bee n obtained and related to the changes in the magnetic properties. The resul ts obtained show that the residual stresses are the main source of the in-p lane magnetic anisotropy, they act as pinning centers for the wall displace ments, and they are mainly near the surface. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.