EFFECTIVE ANISOTROPY AND MAGNETOSTRICTION OF THE AMORPHOUS AND NANOCRYSTALLINE FE83ZR7B8CU2 ALLOY

The effective magnetic anisotropy and saturation magnetostriction of b oth amorphous and nanocrystalline (samples with different microstructu res) Fe83Zr7B8Cu2 alloy have been investigated. The effective anisotro py results were obtained through the measurement of the bias field dep endence of the transverse susceptibility in samples annealed from 480 to 600 C. In the about mentioned range, the annealing temperature depe ndence of the saturation magnetostriction is related to the presence o f a nanocrystalline structure leading to a remarkable magnetic softeni ng. From ours results it was possible to discern the occurrence of int ergranular coupling and to evaluate the typical dimensions of the coup led units.