Consolidation of Sm5Fe17 powder by spark plasma sintering method

Sm₅Fe₁₇ bulk materials, one of the newer permanent magnetic materials, were successfully produced by the spark plasma sintering method. The resultant bulk materials had high densities of 85–98%. When obtained by sintering at relatively lower temperatures, the Sm₅Fe₁₇ bulk materials consisted of the Sm₅Fe₁₇ and SmFe₃ phases, whereas they contained some -Fe phase together with the Sm₅Fe₁₇ and SmFe₃ phases when obtained by sintering at relatively high temperatures. High coercivity values, exceeding 2 MAm⁻¹, were found in the Sm₅Fe₁₇ bulk materials consisting of the Sm₅Fe₁₇ and SmFe₃ phases.