At the 18th RQ 2026 (International Conference on Rapidly Quenched and Metastable Materials), held at the Paradise Hotel Busan from August 23 to 28, Kang Tae-yeon, a master’s student in the Department of New Materials Engineering at Kookmin University (advisor: Professor Choi HyunJoo) from the Nano-Convergence Structural Materials Laboratory, won third place in the poster session, showcasing outstanding research achievements.

Fe-Si-B-Cu-based amorphous/nanocrystalline soft magnetic ribbon alloys are gaining attention as key materials for next-generation mobility and power electronic devices due to their excellent soft magnetic properties (high saturation magnetization, low coercive force), and these properties are determined by the microstructure of the nanocrystals formed during the heat treatment process. While Cu addition has traditionally been used to control nanocrystallization behavior, limitations such as rising costs associated with increasing Cu content have highlighted the need for new process technologies to replace this method. Consequently, research utilizing ultrasonic treatment as an alternative to Cu addition to control nanocrystallization behavior is gaining attention as a novel approach.

Accordingly, Kang Tae-yun, a master’s student, delivered a poster presentation titled “Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Fe-Based Soft Magnetic Alloy Ribbons According to Cu Content and Ultrasonic Treatment.” This study comprehensively analyzed the microstructural changes in Fe-based soft magnetic alloy ribbons as a function of Cu content and ultrasonic treatment conditions using XRD, DSC, VSM, and TEM, and demonstrated that excellent nanocrystallization behavior and soft magnetic properties were achieved under optimal ultrasonic treatment conditions. This is significant in that it suggests the potential for ultrasonic treatment to serve as a new process technology capable of replacing Cu addition.