High saturation magnetization in Fe–0.4 wt% P alloy processed by a two-step heat treatment

Abstract Fe–0.4 wt% P alloy was processed by melting, forging, hot rolling with a subsequent two-step heat treatment and its magnetic properties were compared with those of non-oriented Si-steel. The sample heat treated at 1000 °C for 1 h followed by 500 °C for 30 min air quenched yielded a saturation magnetization ( B s ) of 19 kG and a low coercivity ( H c ) of 1 Oe. The soft magnetic properties obtained were correlated to the microstructure which showed nano precipitates of Fe 3 P in Fe matrix obtained by the two-step heat treatment procedure.