Manufacture of amorphous alloy ribbons

Amorphous alloys are prepared in continuous ribbon form by rapid quenching directly from the melt. In particular, the process of chill block melt-spinning involves the continuous impingement of molten alloy against a rapidly moving substrate surface. Principles of chill block melt-spinning are presented with regard to the formation of continuous, rapidly-quenched amorphous alloy ribbon. The effects of numerous process variables on sample geometry and physical properties are examined through experimental results obtained by the author and by other researchers. Principles of narrow ribbon manufacture are extended to describe means of fabricating wide ribbon. Manufacturing problems unique to extended runs and potential solutions are cited. Effects of process parameters on magnetic and physical properties of as-cast samples are discussed.