Hitachi Metals Ltd has developed an amorphous magnetic alloy capable of reducing energy loss by more than 30% in the cores of transformers used to receive and distribute electric power in homes and factories.
The alloy is based on a metallic-glass alloy, called Metglas, with a non-crystalline, random atomic structure. Amorphous alloys have properties that make them ideal for use in transformer cores, as they are easily magnetized by small magnetic fields, and the direction of magnetism can be controlled via heat processing.
While traditional amorphous alloys can reduce power loss by 30%, the Metglas-based alloy is capable of cutting the loss by up to 80%, according to some estimates. "The adoption of our new alloy in all the transformer cores in Japan would enable the nation to eliminate four nuclear power plants", a Hitachi Metals official claimed.
Transformers with cores made from the amorphous alloy are expected to be marketed by Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co Ltd in fiscal 2006. The prices will be slightly higher than those of the transformers using conventional iron-based amorphous alloy cores.
The firm will begin shipping samples of the amorphous magnetic alloy in fiscal 2006, with sales of [yen] 2.5 billion (about $21.2 million) targeted for fiscal 2008.
For further information, contact: Hitachi Metals Ltd, 1-2-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; tel: +81-3-5765-4000; Internet: www.hitachi-metals.co.jp
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