Fe-based Nano-crystal Alloy Magnetic Core High Frequency Permeability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing Fe-based nano-crystal alloys struggle to achieve high specific magnetic permeability at high frequency bands, such as around 100 kHz, which is essential for compact magnetic components like common mode chokes.

Innovation Solution

Applying a magnetic field in a specific temperature range during the temperature-increasing period of the heat treatment process for an Fe-based amorphous alloy, between 50°C below and 20°C above the crystallization start temperature, as defined by a differential scanning calorimeter, to enhance the alloy's magnetic properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If heat treatment is performed with magnetic field applied at highest temperature reached, then squareness ratio is decreased, but specific magnetic permeability at high frequency band is not sufficiently improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesquareness ratioVSAvoidspecific magnetic permeability at high frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat treatment process is segmented into multiple temperature stages: a first heat treatment at a first temperature to decrease squareness ratio, and a second heat treatment at a second temperature (higher than the first) to increase specific magnetic permeability at high frequency. This segmentation allows optimization of different magnetic properties at different temperature stages, resolving the contradiction between decreasing squareness ratio and improving high-frequency permeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first heat treatment at lower temperature is performed as a preliminary action to decrease the squareness ratio before conducting the second heat treatment at higher temperature. By preparing the magnetic structure in advance through the first heat treatment, the subsequent second heat treatment can more effectively improve the specific magnetic permeability at high frequency band without being constrained by the initial high squareness ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If magnetic field is applied continuously throughout heat treatment, then magnetic characteristics are improved, but energy consumption and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic characteristicsVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic field application is implemented periodically rather than continuously: the magnetic field is applied during the first heat treatment at lower temperature to decrease squareness ratio, then the field application is interrupted, and subsequently the magnetic field is applied again during the second heat treatment at higher temperature. This periodic application maintains magnetic property improvement while reducing cumulative energy consumption and process complexity compared to continuous field application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This approach effectively increases the specific magnetic permeability at high frequencies, making the Fe-based nano-crystal alloys suitable for high-frequency applications by controlling induced magnetic anisotropy and maintaining stability in magnetic characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

applying a magnetic field in a specific temperature range during the temperature-increasing period of the heat treatment process... to enhance the alloy's magnetic properties... by controlling induced magnetic anisotropy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic anisotropy: Anisotropy

Implementation Method 2

heating a nano-crystallizable Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon to a crystallization temperature region and cooling the nano-crystallizable Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP3050977B1Method for producing fe-based nano-crystal alloy, and method for producing fe-based nano-crystal alloy magnetic core
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 PROTERIAL LTD
  • EP3050977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3050977B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3050977B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for producing an Fe-based nano-crystal alloy ribbon, includes a heat treatment step of heating a nano-crystallizable Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon to a crystallization temperature region and cooling the nano-crystallizable Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon. In the heat treatment step, a magnetic field is applied in a width direction of the alloy ribbon in a temperature range during a temperature-increasing period, the temperature range including at least a part of a temperature range from a temperature lower by 50°C than a crystallization start temperature to a temperature higher by 20°C than the crystallization start temperature and not exceeding a temperature higher by 50°C than the crystallization start temperature, the crystallization start temperature being defined by a differential scanning calorimeter.