Abstract
The effect of conventional annealing and Joule annealing on magnetoimpedance (MI) of Co68Fe5Si12B15 ribbons was studied. The ribbons used for the MI measurements were 1 and 5 cm long. The as cast 5-cm-long ribbons exhibit a larger MI compared with the 1-cm-long ribbons, at all frequencies. The maximum MI of the as cast ribbons of 5 cm length is 17% at 600 kHz whereas for the 1-cm-long ribbons it is 3% at 500 kHz. Conventional annealing carried out at 200 and 300 degrees C for 1 h results in the decrease of the MI in both the 5 and 1-cm-long ribbons, respectively. The Joule annealing of the 5-cm-long ribbons employing a current of 500 mA for 5 min. causes the increase of the MI to 26% at 800 kHz. For the 1 cm Joule-annealed ribbon, employing a current of 500 mA for 5 min., the maximum MI observed is 6% at 500 kHz. (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics.