Tailoring metalloid elements in Fe-C-P-B amorphous/nanocrystalline alloys with high saturated magnetization and heat-treatable bending ductility

A family of Fe-C-P-B amorphous alloys with high Fe containing, high saturated magnetization and consistent bending ductility even enduring high-temperature annealing at near crystallization temperature (T_x) was fabricated. The effects of the tunable concentration of metalloid elements on the glass forming range, thermal properties, soft magnetic properties and bending ductility were ascertained in the quaternary model system. For the Fe-C-P-B system, B addition is beneficial for glass formation with high Fe content (up to 87 at.% Fe for Fe₈₇C₂P₂B₉), C addition can improve the saturated magnetization (up to 1.67 T for Fe₈₂C₁₄P₂B₂), and P addition is beneficial for reducing the coercivity (low to 5.6 A/m for Fe₈₅C₂P₁₁B₂). Meanwhile, the optimal amorphous alloys can maintain good bending ductility even after annealing treatment close to sub-T_x. The results related with the optimal tailoring of metalloid element are significant for materials design with good soft magnetic and mechanical properties in Fe-based amorphous alloys.