The disclosure is directed to a method of forming high-aspect-ratio metallic glass articles that are substantially free of defects and cosmetic flaws by means of rapid capacitive discharge forming. Metallic glass alloys that are stable against crystallization for at least 100 ms at temperatures where the viscosity is in the range of 10.sup.0 to 10.sup.4 Pa-s are considered as suitable for forming such high-aspect-ratio articles.

A method for determining the ferrite phase fraction x.sub.a after heating or when cooling a steel strip (2) in a metallurgic system. Also, a device for carrying out the method. A method by which the ferrite phase fraction in the steel strip (2) can be determined online, quickly and easily, includes measuring a width w.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.1 of the steel strip (2), wherein the steel strip (2) comprises a ferrite phase fraction x.sub.a 1 during the measurements; heating or cooling the steel strip (2); when heating the steel strip (2) a phase conversion at least in part occurs, a.fwdarw.y from the ferrite state a into the austenitic state y and when cooling the steel strip a phase conversion at least in part occurs, from the austenitic state y into the ferrite state a; measuring of a width w and a temperature T of steel strip (2) converted at least in part; determining the ferrite phase fraction of the formula (I), wherein T.sub.0 is a reference temperature and a.sub.a and a.sub.y are the linear heat expansion coefficients of ferrite and austenite.

A method for determining the ferrite phase fraction x.sub.a after heating or when cooling a steel strip (2) in a metallurgic system. Also, a device for carrying out the method. A method by which the ferrite phase fraction in the steel strip (2) can be determined online, quickly and easily, includes measuring a width w.sub.1 and a temperature T.sub.1 of the steel strip (2), wherein the steel strip (2) comprises a ferrite phase fraction x.sub.a 1 during the measurements; heating or cooling the steel strip (2); when heating the steel strip (2) a phase conversion at least in part occurs, a.fwdarw.y from the ferrite state a into the austenitic state y and when cooling the steel strip a phase conversion at least in part occurs, from the austenitic state y into the ferrite state a; measuring of a width w and a temperature T of steel strip (2) converted at least in part; determining the ferrite phase fraction of the formula (I), wherein T.sub.0 is a reference temperature and a.sub.a and a.sub.y are the linear heat expansion coefficients of ferrite and austenite.

Embodiments are described for annealing systems and related methods to process microelectronic workpieces using vertical multi-batch perpendicular magnetic annealing systems that allow for a side-by-side configuration of multiple annealing systems to satisfy reduced footprint requirements.

Embodiments are described for annealing systems and related methods to process microelectronic workpieces using vertical multi-batch perpendicular magnetic annealing systems that allow for a side-by-side configuration of multiple annealing systems to satisfy reduced footprint requirements.