METGLAS 2705M Co-based amorphous ribbon

Cobalt-based amorphous metal ribbon, Co-Fe-Ni-Mo-B-Si: cobalt 75 to 85, silicon 3 to 7, boron 1 to 5, iron 1 to 5, molybdenum 1 to 5 and nickel 1 to 5 (weight %, SDS ranges) · amorphous

Also known as 2705M, 2705M Cobalt Base Magnetic Alloy

METGLAS 2705M is a cobalt-based amorphous metal ribbon made by Metglas, Inc.

9 sources · Updated 2026-11-01 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

2 of 5

Lab-measured

Saturation induction

0.77 T

Permeability

600,000 annealed; 290,000 as cast

Shielding

267 axial; 1500 transverse

Temperature

90 °C

Curie temperature

365 °C

Recipe, share of the weight

  • Co 75 to 85%Cobalt
  • Si 3 to 7%Silicon
  • B 1 to 5%Boron
  • Fe 1 to 5%Iron
  • Mo 1 to 5%Molybdenum
  • Ni 1 to 5%Nickel

Best for

Flexible magnetic shields and high-permeability cores, where the ribbon is used without annealing (the manufacturer's product page makes this claim)

Weakest at

Ground data only: no corrosion rate, no long-term ageing data above the 90 °C continuous service temperature, and no vacuum or flight result were found in the sources read

Risk at a glance

  • People Low. Sharp edges and fumes from cutting
  • If it fails Moderate. Fire or melting of the ribbon
  • Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded

Quick facts: Co-based amorphous ribbon

Key properties of Co-based amorphous ribbon
PropertyValueBasis
Density7.8 g/cm³1 sourced value
Tensile strength1,000 to 2,000 MPa1 sourced value
Young's modulus100 to 110 GPa1 sourced value
Thermal expansion (CTE)12.1 ppm/K1 sourced value
Electrical resistivity0.0000014 Ω·m1 sourced value
Maximum service temperature90 °C1 sourced value

What is the density of METGLAS 2705M?

METGLAS 2705M has a density of 7.8 g/cm³. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of METGLAS 2705M?

METGLAS 2705M has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 12.1 ppm/K. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the tensile strength of METGLAS 2705M?

METGLAS 2705M has a tensile strength of 1,000 to 2,000 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the Young's modulus of METGLAS 2705M?

METGLAS 2705M has a Young's modulus of 100 to 110 GPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the maximum service temperature of METGLAS 2705M?

METGLAS 2705M has a maximum service temperature of 90 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What are the other names and codes for METGLAS 2705M?

METGLAS 2705M is also written as 2705M, 2705M Cobalt Base Magnetic Alloy. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.

What is METGLAS 2705M used for?

Uses recorded in the sources include Flexible electromagnetic shielding (human-size cylindrical shield); Internal magnetic shield in a cryogenic neutron electric dipole moment experiment (laboratory use, not flown); Magnetic sensors, high frequency cores and magnetic switches.

Why it exists

METGLAS 2705M is a cobalt-based amorphous metal ribbon made by Metglas, Inc. Amorphous means the atoms are not arranged in a regular crystal lattice. A 2011 University of Kentucky paper calls the alloy a low-cost, high-permeability cobalt-based magnetic material. The manufacturer lists it for flexible electromagnetic shielding, magnetic sensors, high frequency cores and magnetic switches.

Where it's used

Magnetic shielding

A 2011 University of Kentucky paper built a human-size cylindrical shield from the ribbon. In the Earth's magnetic field, its DC shielding factors were 267 axial and 1500 transverse.

Cryogenic experiment

A 2017 paper on a neutron electric dipole moment experiment used six layers of 2705M as the internal shield, because the alloy keeps high permeability from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures. This is a laboratory use, not a flight.

Sensors and cores

The manufacturer's product page lists the alloy for magnetic sensors, high frequency cores and magnetic switches.

Recipe

Cobalt-based amorphous metal ribbon, Co-Fe-Ni-Mo-B-Si: cobalt 75 to 85, silicon 3 to 7, boron 1 to 5, iron 1 to 5, molybdenum 1 to 5 and nickel 1 to 5 (weight %, SDS ranges)

METGLAS 2705M is a ribbon of cobalt with smaller amounts of boron, iron, molybdenum, nickel and silicon. The SDS gives weight-percent ranges rather than a fixed composition. The manufacturer says its magnetic materials are made on a proprietary high-speed casting process.

What Co-based amorphous ribbon is made of
IngredientShare of the weightWhat it does
Cobalt Co 75 to 85% Main constituent, given as a weight-percent range in the SDS.
Silicon Si 3 to 7% Alloying element, given as a weight-percent range in the SDS.
Boron B 1 to 5% Alloying element, given as a weight-percent range in the SDS.
Iron Fe 1 to 5% Alloying element, given as a weight-percent range in the SDS.
Molybdenum Mo 1 to 5% Alloying element, given as a weight-percent range in the SDS.
Nickel Ni 1 to 5% Alloying element, given as a weight-percent range in the SDS.

Weight shares are as printed in the sources.

What it can do

Saturation induction

0.77 T

measured

The technical bulletin gives a saturation induction of 0.77 T.

Permeability

600,000 annealed; 290,000 as cast

measured

The bulletin gives a maximum DC permeability of 600,000 when annealed and 290,000 as cast. The bulletin prints no unit for these values.

Shielding

267 axial; 1500 transverse

measured

In the 2011 test of a 0.61-m diameter, 1.83-m long shield of six foil layers, the DC shielding factors in the Earth's magnetic field were 267 axial and 1500 transverse.

Temperature

90 °C

measured

The bulletin gives 90 °C as the continuous service temperature.

Curie temperature

365 °C

measured

The bulletin and the SDS both give a Curie temperature of 365 °C.

How it compares

METGLAS 2705M is a cobalt-based ribbon, and its 2705M section on the manufacturer's product page lists it for shielding, sensors and high frequency cores. The sources read do not compare its numbers directly with other magnetic alloys, so the table below shows its own datasheet values for the three properties.

The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.

Benchmarks
MeasurementCo-based amorphous ribbonNdFeBSmCoAlnicoFeCoVCoFe / Co-W / Co-Ti / Co-AlNi-Fe-MoNi-Fe-MoFe-SiMGNbTiMgB2, REBCO, BSCCO
Physical and electrical
Density, as printed in the technical bulletin7.8 g/cm³17.6 g/cm³8.2 to 8.4 g/cm³6.9 to 7.3 g/cm³8.12 g/cm³7.9 g/cm³8.7 g/cm³8.7 g/cm³7.6 kg/dm37.18 g/cm³6.4 to 6.5 g/cm³2.57 g/cm³
Electrical resistivity136 μΩ.cm6150 uohm cm80 to 90 uohm cm45 to 75 uohm cm0.401 Ω·mm²/m0.3 µΩm55 µΩcm60 µΩ·cm59 µΩ·cm1.3 µΩmno datano data
Ribbon thickness, as printed in the 2011 paper20.3 µm18no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Temperature behavior
Curie temperature, technical bulletin365 °C7310 °C700 to 750 °C860 °C950 °C940 °C410 °C420 °Cno data395 °Cno datano data
Curie temperature, safety data sheet365 °C8310 °C700 to 750 °C860 °C950 °C940 °C410 °C420 °Cno data395 °Cno datano data
Crystallization temperature, technical bulletin520 °C9no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data510 °Cno datano data
Crystallization temperature, safety data sheet520 °C10no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data510 °Cno datano data
Other measurements
Saturation induction0.77 T2no datano datano data2.35 Tno data0.8 T0.75 Tno data1.56 Tno datano data
Maximum DC permeability, annealed6×10^5 -3no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Maximum DC permeability, as cast2.9×10^5 -4no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Saturation magnetostriction< 0.5 ppm5no datano datano data70 ppm25 ppm1×10^-6 -no datano datano datano datano data
Tensile strength, as printed in the technical bulletin1 to 2 GPa11no datano datano data350 MPano data450 N/mm2500 to 700 N/mm2535 MPa2000 N/mm2no datano data
Elastic modulus, as printed in the technical bulletin100 to 110 GPa12no data1.2 10^11 N/m2no data190 to 210 GPa440 GPa190 to 221 kN/mm2190 to 221 kN/mm2185 GPa110 GPano data149 to 186 GPa
Lamination factor> 75 %13no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data84 %no datano data
Coefficient of thermal expansion12.1 ppm/°C147 1e-6 per °C (dL/L)8 to 10 1e-6 per °C11 to 13 1e-6 per °C9.4 ppm/Kno data12 10-6/K12 10-6/K12 10-6/C7.6 x10-6/°Cno datano data
Continuous service temperature90 °C1580 °C250 °C525 °Cno datano datano datano datano data90 °Cno datano data
DC axial magnetic shielding factor, single-shell cylinder267 -16no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
DC transverse magnetic shielding factor, single-shell cylinder1500 -17no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data

Why choose it, and why not

Good for

  • Flexible electromagnetic shielding, the first use the manufacturer lists for 2705M.
  • Single-shell shielding of a steady field: the 2011 test measured 267 axial and 1500 transverse DC shielding factors.

Watch out for

  • The bulletin prints its permeability values without a unit, so they are entered as dimensionless numbers.
  • The continuous service temperature is 90 °C, and the sources read give no data above it.
  • No corrosion rate was found. The SDS only says moisture and corrosive materials can attack the product.

METGLAS 2705M is a documented cobalt-based shielding ribbon with datasheet values and one 2011 university shield test. Its corrosion, long-term ageing and flight behaviour are not documented in the sources read.

Technical details

For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.

Other names and standards

The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.

Other names and standards
SystemCodes
Trade name2705M, 2705M Cobalt Base Magnetic Alloy

Notes

The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Density, as printed in the technical bulletinValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletingrade METGLAS 2705M ribboncondition as printed in the physical properties table—
2Saturation inductionValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletingrade METGLAS 2705M ribboncondition as printed in the magnetic properties table—
3Maximum DC permeability, annealedValue printed in the technical bulletin; the bulletin prints no unit, so the value is entered as a dimensionless numberheat treatment annealedprinted unit none—
4Maximum DC permeability, as castValue printed in the technical bulletin; the bulletin prints no unit, so the value is entered as a dimensionless numberheat treatment as castprinted unit none—
5Saturation magnetostrictionUpper limit printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletinprinted as <0.5 ppmcondition as printed in the magnetic properties table—
6Electrical resistivityValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletingrade METGLAS 2705M ribbontemperature not stated—
7Curie temperature, technical bulletinValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletingrade METGLAS 2705M ribboncondition as printed in the magnetic properties table—
8Curie temperature, safety data sheetValue printed in the manufacturer's safety data sheetprinted as 689 °F (365 °C)grade METGLAS 2705M Cobalt Base Magnetic AlloyThe bulletin and the safety data sheet give the same Curie temperature.
9Crystallization temperature, technical bulletinValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletingrade METGLAS 2705M ribboncondition as printed in the physical properties table—
10Crystallization temperature, safety data sheetValue printed in the manufacturer's safety data sheetprinted as 968 °F (520 °C)grade METGLAS 2705M Cobalt Base Magnetic Alloy—
11Tensile strength, as printed in the technical bulletinRange printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletinform ribbonheat treatment not stated in the bulletinprinted as 1-2 (GPa)—
12Elastic modulus, as printed in the technical bulletinRange printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletinform ribbonprinted as 100-110 (GPa)—
13Lamination factorLower limit printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletinprinted as >75 (%)form ribbon—
14Coefficient of thermal expansionValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletintemperature range not printed in the bulletingrade METGLAS 2705M ribbon—
15Continuous service temperatureValue printed in the manufacturer's technical bulletinbasis continuous service temperature as printedgrade METGLAS 2705M ribbon—
16DC axial magnetic shielding factor, single-shell cylinderMeasured by the authors of a 2011 University of Kentucky paper on large Metglas shieldsassembly single-shell open-ended cylinder of 2705M ribbon, 0.61-m diameter and 1.83-m longthickness total 122 µm (6 foil layers)field DC, Earth's magnetic fieldshaking not used—
17DC transverse magnetic shielding factor, single-shell cylinderMeasured by the authors of a 2011 University of Kentucky paper on large Metglas shieldsassembly single-shell open-ended cylinder of 2705M ribbon, 0.61-m diameter and 1.83-m longthickness total 122 µm (6 foil layers)field DC, Earth's magnetic fieldshaking not used—
18Ribbon thickness, as printed in the 2011 paperValue printed in the abstract of a 2011 university paper that tested the ribbonform ribbon foilwidth 5.08-cm wide—

Corrosion and compatibility

What happens when it meets other materials and environments.

Corrosion and compatibility
EnvironmentConcernWhat happens
Moisture and corrosive materials (storage and incompatibilities) not rated The SDS says the product can be attacked by moisture and corrosive materials.1
Heating above the continuous service temperature (thermal ageing) not rated The bulletin gives 90 °C as the continuous service temperature and prints no ageing data above it.2
Corrosion details
#EnvironmentDetailsTest conditions
1 Moisture and corrosive materials (storage and incompatibilities) Section 10 lists moisture and corrosive materials as incompatible, and Section 7 asks that the product not be exposed to moisture or any other substance. The SDS gives no corrosion rate, test or exposure time. —
2 Heating above the continuous service temperature (thermal ageing) The bulletin prints a crystallization temperature of 520 °C and a continuous service temperature of 90 °C. No property change after long heating at intermediate temperatures was found in the sources read. —

Risks and side effects

Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.

For people

The SDS says the sharp edges are the main hazard as shipped. Fumes from grinding, cutting or welding are harmful if inhaled.

Edges
The edges are very sharp. The SDS asks for cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses when the ribbon is ground, sanded, cut or welded.
Fumes
Vapors and fumes from grinding, sanding, cutting or welding are harmful if inhaled. The SDS asks for mechanical ventilation during those operations.
Cobalt
The SDS lists cobalt as IARC group 2b, a possible carcinogen, and says cobalt and nickel, and their compounds, should be treated as possible carcinogens.

If the ribbon melts or burns

These points come from the SDS and are not based on field incidents.

Fire
The product may burn in a structural fire. Toxic and irritating vapors may be released if it melts or burns, and the SDS asks for self-contained respiratory protection.

Handling and storage

Storage
The SDS asks that the ribbon be kept from physical damage, moisture and other contamination.
Incompatibility
The SDS says the product can be attacked by moisture and corrosive materials.

Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.

Failure risks

Failure risks
FailureTrigger and consequence
Fire or melting of the ribbonmoderate severityMelting or burning in a structural fireThe SDS says the product may burn in a structural fire, and toxic and irritating vapors may be released if it melts or burns.
Operation above the continuous service temperaturelow severityUse above 90 °CThe bulletin gives 90 °C as the continuous service temperature. No property data above that limit were found in the sources read, so the effect of longer exposure is not documented.

Handling and storage

  • The edges are very sharp. Wear cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses when grinding, sanding, cutting or welding.
  • Use mechanical ventilation when cutting, grinding, sanding or welding the ribbon.
  • Store the ribbon in a facility that protects it from physical damage, moisture and other contamination.

Mitigations

  • The manufacturer says the alloy can be annealed for square or linear permeability.

Supply and geography

How common the raw materials are and where they come from.

Cobalt

Top producers (2025)
Congo (Kinshasa) 73%, Indonesia 14%, Australia 1.2%, Philippines 1.2%, Russia 2.5%
Critical mineral lists
US: listed, EU: listed
Recycling
USGS: cobalt content of purchased scrap represented 25% of estimated cobalt consumption in 2025.
Substitutes
USGS: substitution for cobalt could result in a loss in product performance or increased cost. Potential substitutes in some magnets include nickel-iron alloys.

Updated