effects on magnetic and mechanical properties of Fe-based Fe-Nb-Hf-Y-B bulk glassy alloys with high glass-forming ability

The effects of partial substitution of Y for Fe on the glass-forming ability (GFA), mechanical, thermal and magnetic properties of quinary Fe73-xNb4Hf3YxB20 (x=0-3 at.%) alloys were investigated. The replacement of 1-3 at.% Fe by Y increased thermal stability of the supercooled liquid in the Fe-Nb-Hf-Y-B alloys, enabling the fabrication of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with diameters up to 4mm from the original 2 mm. Properties of Fe73-xNb4Hf3YxB20 BMGs were measured, yielding a rather high saturation magnetization of 1.05-1.22T, low coercive force of 1.6-3.6A/m, high compressive fracture strength of 3200-3490 MPa, Yong's modulus (E) of 177-190 GPa and compressive strain before failure similar to 2%. Furthermore, the role of Y addition on the GFA as well as mechanical and magnetic properties is also discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.