Interaction of surface of ribbons of amorphous soft-magnetic iron-based alloys with vapor

The interaction with water vapor of the surface of ribbons of amorphous soft-magnetic iron-based alloys with positive saturation magnetostriction and an effect of the interaction on the magnetization distribution and magnetic properties have been investigated. The results of the investigation showed that, during in-air heat treatment, the interaction of the surface of ribbons of amorphous soft-magnetic alloys with water vapor upon the heating of samples and at the initial stage of isothermal holding exerts a substantial effect on the magnetization distribution and the level of magnetic properties formed. Preliminary room-temperature treatment of the ribbon surface in the as-quenched state with water vapor favors an increase in pseudo-uniaxial tensile stresses along the ribbon axis because, during annealing, the enhanced concentration of hydrogen and oxygen atoms introduced into the ribbon surface is formed in this direction. When certain regimes of heat treatment are used, this leads to an increase in the volume of domains with magnetization oriented along the axis of the ribbon in its plane and allows a significant enhancement in the efficiency of the in-air heat treatment.