Glass-coated microwires are composite materials that consist of a metallic nucleus covered by glass shielding. They are prepared by drawing and rapid quenching of molten alloys and glass. They have unique properties in terms of the magnetization process as well as in terms of the mechanical properties. This makes them suitable elements for sensing various physical quantities in engineering applications.
Magnetic properties are mainly given by magnetoelastic interaction of magnetic moments with a distribution of mechanical stresses induced during production. Axial mechanical stresses arise as a result of drawing and rapid quenching of the wire. Radial and circular stresses arise from different thermal expansions coefficients of glass coating and metallic core. In addition, shape anisotropy is given by physical dimensions (diameter of the wire ∼1–40 μm, length of the wire ∼1–4 cm).