HEAT TREATMENT INDUCED MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTY CHANGES IN FE<I>₄₀</I> NI<I>₄₀</I> B<I>₁₄</I> SI<I>₆</I> GLASSY ALLOYS USED AS SEASONAL HEATING ELEMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

Abstract

Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₁₄Si₆ amorphous alloy owns average soft magnetic properties but its mechanical and electrical characteristics are impressive. We investigated whether it can be used as heating element in resistivity heating based on its high electrical resistivity and mechanical flexibility. We found that these property changes during long time heat treatments are not significant, allowing us to propose this alloy for this new application. Beside this technically important result we found that the microhardness, tensile strength and flexibility change during the structural relaxation in a different way as it is described in the relevant literature. We try to give an explanation of this unusual behaviour. This can contribute to the general understanding of structural relaxation in the metallic glassy state.