Combined study of crystallization of amorphous Fe75−xNixSi9B16 alloy

The crystallization of the amorphous Fe75−xNixSi9B16 alloy is studied by different methods. Particularly the influence of the substitution of Fe by Ni atoms on the crystallization properties of the material is investigated by transmission electron microscopy, linear heating differential scanning calorimetry, magnetization and electrical measurements. The crystallization process consists of three distinct steps. The crystallization starts with the formation of small Fe (Si, Ni) particles followed by the crystallization of the [Fe (Si, Ni)]3B phase together with the dendritic growth of Fe (Si, Ni). Finally the metastable [Fe (Si, Ni)]3B decomposes into Fe (Si, Ni) and Fe2B. In the 4 at.% Ni alloy the crystallization process changes completely and the crystallization is completed in two steps creating a nanostructured material.