The high-frequency initial magnetic permeability and its relaxation have be
en studied in Fe62.5Co6Ni7.5Zr6Cu1Nb2B15 after heat treatment (both in furn
ace or via DC Joule heating). The magnetic permeability steadily increases
in correspondence of both structural relaxation and nanocrystallisation of
the alloy. The intensity of the permeability relaxation (measured between f
ixed times after demagnetisation) is reduced by structural relaxation but e
xhibits a sharp maximum immediately before the onset of nanocrystallisation
. The nanocrystalline alloy is characterised by a nonzero, if reduced, perm
eability relaxation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.