Study of nanocrystalline Fe–M–Cu–Nb–Si–B (M=Cr, Co, Ni) ribbons by elastic modulus measurements

The magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of Fe72M1.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 (M=Co, Cr, Ni) samples have been investigated. The samples were annealed between 400 and 650°C under argon atmosphere to induce varying nanocrystalline fractions. It was observed that the magnitude of field dependence of Young’s modulus varies from 50% to nearly zero as the saturation magnetostriction is reduced by α-FeSi grains. The results are discussed in terms of stress relief and reduced magnetostriction constant.