Crystallization behaviour of the Fe60Co10Ni10Zr7B13 metallic glass

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of annealing on the structure of the ferromagnetic Fe60Co10Ni10Zr7B13 metallic glass. Crystallization behaviour of the alloy was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. A combination of transmission and conversion electron Mössbauer techniques allowed us to compare the crystallization processes occurring in the bulk and in the surface layers of the ribbon samples. The first stage of crystallization corresponding to the partial crystallization of the bcc Fe–Co solid solution was followed by the formation of iron borides and the paramagnetic iron-poor fcc Fe–Ni phase. The surface crystallization started at lower annealing temperature than the bulk one. The bcc Fe–Co and tetragonal Fe2B phases were observed at the surfaces of the annealed ribbons.