Abstract
Magnetic properties, electrical resistivity, hardness and microstructure have been studied on Fe-Nb alloys (Recalloy) containing less than 4%Nb. The alloys are water-quenched from various temperatures over the α-γ transformation point, cold-drawn by more than 50% reduction, and then reheated at 400∼1000°C for less than 5 h.
The magnetic properties of those alloys depend remarkably on the reduction rate, the reheating temperature and time. An Fe-3.1%Nb alloy reheated at 650°C for 30 min after water-quenching from 1050°C and cold-drawing by 97.2% reduction exhibits very superior properties as follows: magnetic induction at 8 kA/m B8=1.74 T, residual induction Br=1.62 T, coercive force Hc=1.62 kA/m, squareness ratio Br/B8, and squareness \sqrt(BH)max⁄BrHc=0.90. The electrical resistivity and Vickers hardness of this alloy are 0.126 μΩ·m and 353, respectively.
