Amorphous Alloy Ribbon Cu Segregation Workability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Amorphous alloy ribbons used for nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys are prone to embrittlement, making them difficult to work with in manufacturing, and their magnetic properties are influenced by thermal history and element concentration distribution, which is challenging for mass production and achieving high magnetic performance.

Innovation Solution

Control the Cu concentration distribution in the amorphous alloy ribbon by controlling the manufacturing conditions, such as cooling rate and atmosphere, to create a Cu-segregated portion with a maximum concentration of 4 at.% or less, enhancing workability and magnetic properties by forming a nanocrystalline layer with improved insulation and high-frequency performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If amorphous alloy ribbon is manufactured by rapid quenching method, then excellent soft magnetic properties are achieved, but the ribbon becomes embrittled and difficult to work with

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft magnetic propertiesVSAvoidworkability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a Cu-segregated portion localized at the surface layer (depth of 2-20 nm) with controlled Cu concentration (maximum 4 at.% or less), while the inner portion maintains the original amorphous alloy composition. This local differentiation allows the surface to have improved toughness for workability while the bulk retains excellent soft magnetic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the Cu concentration parameter in the surface layer by controlling manufacturing conditions (cooling rate, atmosphere) to create a Cu-segregated portion with maximum Cu concentration of 4 at.% or less. This parameter change in the surface region improves toughness without compromising the magnetic properties of the bulk material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If Cu concentration is increased to improve workability, then toughness is enhanced, but magnetic properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidmagnetic properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention confines the Cu-segregated portion to the surface layer with depth of 2-20 nm, creating a local region with enhanced toughness. The bulk material (500 nm depth and beyond) maintains Cu concentration at levels that preserve excellent soft magnetic properties, thus resolving the contradiction between workability and magnetic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies a limited amount of Cu segregation (maximum 4 at.% in the surface layer) rather than uniform distribution throughout the material. This partial action provides sufficient toughness improvement for workability while avoiding excessive Cu content that would deteriorate magnetic properties in the bulk material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If element concentration distribution is not controlled, then manufacturing is simpler, but magnetic properties show variation and instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass production efficiencyVSAvoidmagnetic property stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the manufacturing parameters (cooling rate, atmosphere composition) to naturally produce a Cu-segregated portion with controlled Cu concentration (maximum 4 at.% or less) in the surface layer. This parameter control ensures stable and reproducible magnetic properties while maintaining mass production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention establishes a feedback mechanism where the manufacturing conditions (cooling rate, atmosphere) are controlled to produce the desired Cu concentration distribution. By monitoring and adjusting these parameters, the process ensures consistent Cu segregation patterns that yield stable magnetic properties across mass production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The controlled Cu concentration distribution results in an amorphous alloy ribbon with improved toughness and magnetic properties, facilitating easier processing and achieving stable, high-performance nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys with reduced iron loss and variation in characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

amorphous alloys are generally manufactured by quenching raw materials from a liquid phase or a gas phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRapid quenching: Freezing

Implementation Method 2

These Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys are fabricated by annealing amorphous alloys prepared by rapid quenching technique from a melt or gas phase to microcrystallize them

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Implementation Method 3

a Cu-segregated portion is present where Cu is segregated in a higher concentration in the surface side of the amorphous alloy ribbon than in the outermost surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSegregation: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP2261385B1Thin strip of amorphous alloy, nanocrystal soft magnetic alloy, and magnetic core
Publication Date: 2017.06.07 PROTERIAL LTD
  • EP2261385B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2261385B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2261385B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a thin strip of an amorphous alloy having excellent workability, a nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy which can stably provide good magnetic properties, and a magnetic core using the nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy. The thin strip of an amorphous alloy is characterized in that the thin strip is formed of an alloy having a composition represented by Fe100-a-b-c-dMaSibBcCud (atomic%), wherein 0 ≦ a ≦ 10, 0 ≦ b ≦ 20, 4 ≦ c ≦ 20, 0.1 ≦ d ≦ 3, and 9 ≦ a + b + c ≦ 35, and containing unavoidable impurities, and, in the composition, M represents at least one element selected from Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, and W, a Cu segregated part is present, on the surface side of the thin strip of the amorphous alloy, in which Cu is segregated at a higher concentration than the Cu concentration in the outermost surface part of the thin strip of the amorphous alloy, and the highest Cu concentration in the Cu segregated part is not more than 4 atomic%.