Preparation of Fe-based monodisperse spherical particles with fully glassy phase

In this study, we prepared monodisperse spherical particles of a desired diameter using [(Fe_0.5Co_0.5)_0.75B_0.2Si_0.05]₉₆Nb₄ alloy; the particles were prepared by using an atomization process developed by us. The particles have perfect sphericity and narrow size distribution along with a homogeneous composition. The phase transitions of particles from the fully glassy phase to the crystalline phase via mixed phase structures occurred as the particle diameter was increased; the particles produced in the fully glassy phase in an argon atmosphere had a diameter of less than 300 μm. This allowed the estimation of the intrinsic critical cooling rate for the particles with a fully glassy phase, R_c:R_c varied in the range of 700-900 K/s and depended only on the initial temperature of the alloy melt.