Young´s modulus dependence on magnetic bias field in Fe/sub 73.5/Si/sub 16.5/B/sub 6/C/sub 1/Nb/sub 3/ alloy after successive annealings

Both as-quenched and annealed (in transverse magnetic field for 1 and 2 h in temperature range from 300 up to 500/spl deg/C) samples of the amorphous alloy of composition F/sub 73.5/Si/sub 16.5/B/sub 6/C/sub 1/Nb/sub 3/ were investigated. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the annealing time and temperature on Young´s modulus changes (/spl Delta/E effect) versus magnetic bias field after successive heat treatment up to neighborhood of the nanocrystallization temperature. Elasticity moduli were measured using resonant-antiresonant method. A considerable improvement of the piezomagnetic properties was observed by increasing the annealing temperature up to 480/spl deg/C. Maximum /spl Delta/E effect reached 0.57 after one hour annealing. Annealing at 500/spl deg/C caused sudden drop of the piezomagnetic properties, which can be explained by the decrease of the magnetostriction accompanying the appearance of the nanocrystalline phase.<>