Description of the Nanocrystallization Process in Fe_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B₉ Through the Study of the Anelastic and Magnetoelastic Behavior

Abstract
A description of the nanocrystallization process of the amorphous Fe_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B₉ alloy as deduced by a study of the anelastic and magnetoelastic behavior is reported. ΔE effect measurements were performed on the as-prepared alloy and on samples previously submitted to heating treatments in furnace at selected temperatures. The results were coupled to internal friction and dynamic Young's modulus vs. temperature measurements performed both in saturating magnetic field and in zero field. Different stages of the structural evolution towards the final crystalline state have been distinguished and their strict relationship with the observed changes in the magnetoelastic response has been pointed out. In particular a strong ΔE effect was observed in samples annealed at temperatures very close to the one at which the crystallization process starts.