Crystallization of amorphous Fe<inf>78</inf>B<inf>13</inf>Si<inf>9</inf>ribbons as monitored by Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract

The crystallization of amorphous Fe78B13Si9ribbons is monitored through the evolution of the hyperfine fields at the Fe sites as the ribbons are annealed between 300°C and 550°C for two hours at intervals of 50°. Mössbauer sextets belonging to α-Fe(Si), Fe3B, Fe2B and α-Fe compounds begin to be seen as the annealing temperature is raised past 400°C. The hyperfine field distributions responsible for the broadening of the Mössbauer sextet associated with the amorphous phase appear to be bimodal in nature. It is seen that the range of hyperfine field values becomes narrower as the annealing temperature is raised, pointing to a lessening of the inhomogeneity of the amorphous phase. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.