Influence of Si and Nb content on magnetostriction and creep-induced magnetic anisotropy of nanocrystalline FeNbCuSiB alloys

The saturation magnetostriction and creep-induced magnetic anisotropy of FeNbxCu1SiyB alloys (x = 3, 4.5; 0 less than or equal to y less than or equal to 16) nanocrystallized under tensile stress were investigated. The experimental results suggest that both the saturation magnetostriction lambda(s) and the anisotropy constant K-u are influenced by the Nb concentration. The observed effect of Nb on K-u is discussed in terms of the model published recently by Herzer, according to which K-u originates from magnetoelastic coupling of the alpha-FeSi nanocrystals with internal back stresses.