Applications of amorphous magnetic alloys

A review is given on the relationships between the material properties and the recently-developed applications of amorphous magnetic alloys. In the electrical power area, amorphous metal-based transformers are found to have considerable impact in reducing transformer losses when the power distribution systems contain higher harmonics generated by an ever-increasing number of nonlinear loads such as modern power electronic devices, variable-speed motors, etc. In these local power conditioning devices, the versatility of amorphous metals makes it possible to realize inductors with varying performances which are used as electrical chokes, energy storage inductors, saturable cores, etc. Some of these magnetic cores find use in telecommunication systems, examples of which include digital network interface transformers and bandpass filters in DSL. In control and sensing areas, mechanical/electrical/magnetic sensors including electronic article surveillance markers are increasingly utilizing the fast flux-reversal/low magnetic-loss nature of amorphous alloys. Recent advances made in the area of amorphous metal-based bulk magnets are also mentioned.