Texture and magnetic properties of rapidly quenched Fe-6.5wt%Si ribbon

Rapidly quenched Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy has been fabricated as 2.5 cm wide ribbon using the planar flow casting process. The magnetic properties have been investigated for various heat treatment conditions. The relationship between core loss and exciting power vis-avis texture and microstructure of the as-cast and annealed ribbons is discussed. The best magnetic properties obtained-a core loss of 0.46 W/kg and an exciting power of 0.62 VA/kg at B = 1.0 T and f= 60 Hz-are considerably better than those for commercial nonoriented Fe- 3wt%Si steel, but inferior to those for commercial amorphous metallic glasses. The magnetic properties are isotropic in the plane of the ribbon. which makes this material attractive for applications in rotating devices.