Observations of Interaction Between Magnetic Domain Wall and Grain Boundaries in Fe-3wt%Si Alloy by Kerr Microscopy

Abstract

ABSTRACTMagnetic domain structures in Fe-3wt%Si alloy have been observed by a Kerr microscopy to understand the interaction between the magnetic domain wall and grain boundaries. It was found that the domain structures in the vicinity of the grain boundary depend on the misorientation angle; the high angle random boundary disturbs the magnetic domain structure more than the low angle boundary. In addition to the misorientation angle, magnetic domain structures were affected by the inclination of the grain boundary plane. Moreover, dynamic observations of rearrangement of the magnetic domain structure during magnetization revealed that grain boundaries could act as the sink and/or the source for magnetic domains.