Amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials are the core basic materials of modern power electronic systems, collectively referring to two types of materials: "amorphous" and "nanocrystalline". The atoms of amorphous alloys are arranged in a long - range disordered state without grains or grain boundaries. Nanocrystalline alloys use iron - based amorphous alloys as precursors, and through precision annealing, tiny grains with a size of approximately 10 - 20 nanometers are uniformly precipitated inside them, forming a dual - phase structure of "amorphous matrix + nanocrystalline grains". Compared with traditional silicon steel and ferrite, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials have the characteristics of low high - frequency loss and high magnetic permeability.
According to the material matrix, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials can be divided into iron - based amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials, cobalt - based amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials, and iron - nickel - based amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials. Iron - based amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials have high magnetic induction saturation but relatively low magnetic permeability. They are good at handling high - current and high - power scenarios and are suitable for distribution transformers and high - power inductors. Cobalt - based amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials have high magnetic permeability and extremely low coercivity, but low saturation magnetic induction and high cost, and can be used in magnetic heads and precision magnetic sensors. Iron - nickel - based crystalline and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials are mainly used in electronic devices. According to the product form, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials can be divided into strips, powders, wires, etc.
The "2026 - 2030 Global and China Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Materials Industry Research and 14th Five - Year Plan Analysis Report" compiled and released by New Think Tank Industry Research Center shows that China is the global production and consumption center of amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials, with the industrial scale growing rapidly. Due to their high - frequency and low - loss characteristics, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials are used in industries such as power, new energy, and electronic information. In the traditional power field, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials can be used in amorphous distribution transformers, which have lower no - load loss than silicon steel transformers and obvious energy - saving effects. In the electric vehicle field, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials can be used in on - board OBC/DCDC, drive motors, and 800V high - voltage fast - charging magnetic components, improving power conversion efficiency and meeting the requirements of high frequency and high power density. In the photovoltaic energy storage field, amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials can be used in photovoltaic inverters and energy storage converters.
Relevant statistics from the Amorphous Alloy Materials Application Branch of China Electrical Equipment Industry Association show that in 2024, there were nearly 300 various amorphous alloy material production enterprises nationwide, including 7 iron - based amorphous alloy strip enterprises with 24 production lines and an annual designed capacity of 190,000 tons. In 2024, there were 128 nanocrystalline alloy enterprises with more than 350 production lines and an annual designed capacity of 40,000 tons. Currently, the world's major amorphous and nanocrystalline soft magnetic material production enterprises include Proterial, Ltd., Yunlu Co., Ltd., and Advanced Technology & Materials Co., Ltd. (AT&M). Proterial, Ltd. is the former Hitachi Metals. In 1988, Yashiwa et al. from Hitachi Metals developed the nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloy Finemet through crystallization treatment on the basis of amorphous alloys and realized industrialization. Its Finemet series of nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials has the largest output and is widely used in new energy vehicles, 5G communications, consumer electronics, industrial equipment and other fields. Yunlu Co., Ltd. mainly engages in three major material series including amorphous alloys, nanocrystalline alloys, magnetic alloy powders and their products, and is the world's largest amorphous strip production base. By the end of 2024, its amorphous strip production capacity had increased to 105,000 tons. Yunlu Co., Ltd.'s nanocrystalline products include thin strips and magnetic rings, which can be used to make inductors, high - performance magnetic memory and sensors, etc. AT&M's products involve fields such as amorphous/nanocrystalline strips and products, refractory materials and products, powder materials and products, magnetic materials and products, welding materials and products, filter materials and environmental protection projects, high - speed tool steel and synthetic diamond tools, etc. It has the production capacity of a new generation of high - performance amorphous and nanocrystalline strip products, which can be used in the field of solid - state transformers.
Source: Alvin Zhu
Date: December 9, 2025
Email: alvin.zhu@evergrowrs.com