Microstructural and phase evolutions: Their dependent mechanical and magnetic properties in a Fe-based amorphous alloy during annealing process

Highlights: • The microstructural and phase evolutions of a Fe-based BMG during the annealing process. • Occurrence of crystallization process in the various temperature ranges. • Enhance the its mechanical and magnetic properties by formation of a nanocomposite. • The formation of nano-crystalline structure in this amorphous alloy. • The mechanical behavior of investigated BMG by means of indentation testing. In this study, the microstructural and phase evolutions of Fe₄₁Co₇Cr₁₅Mo₁₄Y₂C₁₅B₆ amorphous alloy were investigated during annealing process to enhance the its mechanical and magnetic properties. The results showed that the crystalline phases including Fe₂₃(B,C)₆, Mo₃Fe₃C, and Mo₃Co₃C were formed during the annealing process, so that the volume fraction of these phases increased up to 32.3% by annealing at 928 °C. The mechanical behavior of investigated bulk metallic glass (BMG) was investigated by means of indentation testing. The cracking system types consist in Palmqvist cracks were obtained by means of stepwise polishing. Hardness and indentation toughness increased by an increase in crystallization temperature, simultaneously. Also, the ferromagnetic properties were significantly improved by increasing the volume fraction of crystalline phases.