Effects of Nd–Ga intergranular addition on microstructure and magnetic properties of heavy-rare-earth-free Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets

In this study, we propose an approach of grain boundary modification that can significantly increase the coercivity of the B-lean Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets by intergranular addition of Nd–Ga. The coercivity is substantially enhanced from 1.51 to 2.04 T through optimizing the microstructure and adjusting the phase composition for the grain boundary phase in the annealed magnets. The matrix grains are covered by a continuous thin grain boundary phase accompanying the formation of intermetallic Nd₆Fe₁₃Ga phases. The analysis of magnetic behaviors above Curie temperature confirms that the grain boundary phase of annealed Nd–Ga doped magnets appears to be non-ferromagnetic, facilitating the intergrain exchange decoupling. Microstructure observation in grain boundary area indicates that some surface of the matrix grain is dissolved in the formation process of the Nd₆Fe₁₃Ga phase. It gives rise to a decrease in the proportion of matrix grains and saturation magnetization of the magnet. The detailed relationship between magnetic properties and microstructure is discussed based on these results.     

Effect of aluminum on microstructure and magnetic properties of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets processed by grain boundary diffusion of Tb-Al

The grain boundary diffusion process(GBDP) of Tb can improve the coercivity of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets.In this study,the effect of AI on the diffusion of Tb in the GBDP was investigated.The content of diffused Tb-Al was precisely controlled by adjusting the magnetron sputtering process.The Tb equivalent of Al was also studied.Results show that AI promotes the diffusion of Tb deeper into the magnet,reducing the thickness of the shell in the core-shell structure.This study is helpful for further ...     

Improvement in magnetic properties,corrosion resistance and microstructure of Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets through intergranular addition of Tb68Ni32

New energy vehicles and offshore wind power industries have a high demand for sintered Nd–Fe–B magnets with high intrinsic coercivity and high corrosion resistance. In this study, the magnetic properties, anticorrosion properties, and microstructure of Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets with the intergranular addition of low-melting-point eutectic Tb₆₈Ni₃₂ alloy powders were investigated. The aim is to determine if the addition of Tb₆₈Ni₃₂ can improve these properties. A low melting-point eutectic alloy Tb₆₈Ni₃₂ powders was prepared as a grain boundary additive and blended with the master alloy powders prior to sintering. The coercivity of the resultant magnets gradually increases from 1468 to 2151 kA/m by adding increasing amounts of Tb₆₈Ni₃₂. At the same time, the remanence first increases and then slightly decreases. After studying the microstructure and elemental composition of the Tb₆₈Ni₃₂ added magnets, it is found that the significant increase in coercivity and the negligible reduction in remanence is due to densification, improved grain orientation, a uniform and continuous boundary phase distribution, as well as the generation of a (Nd,Pr,Tb)₂Fe₁₄B “core–shell” structure surrounding the main-phase grain. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the magnet is greatly improved owing to the enhancement of electrochemical stability, as well as the optimization of the distribution and morphology of the intergranular phase.     

Influence of heat treatment on the structure and properties of oxide magnets produced by “dry” pressing

Conclusions The preliminary action of a high-gradient electromagnetic field on dry ferrite powder did not change the. optimum sintering temperature of anisotropic magnets and made it possible to significantly reduce the heat treatment time as the result of an increase in heating rate.The resonant texturing method makes it possible to form a fine-grained uniform structure of barium ferrite magnets. Their residual induction increased by 16% and their coercive force by 47% in comparison with specimens produced by wet pressing.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 1(325), pp. 26–29, January, 1990.     

Fine structure of interphase boundaries in hard alloys of the chromium carbide–titanium system

The structure of interphase boundaries in hard alloys fabricated by the explosive compacting of the powder mixtures of chromium carbide (Cr₃C₂) and titanium is investigated. It is established by electron microscopy that similar boundaries have thicknesses of about 100 nm, over the extension of which a smooth variation in chromium and titanium contents is observed at the almost identical carbon concentration. The boundary structure is nonuniform over the thickness, notably, a layer with a thickness of 5–7 nm and an amorphous structure is revealed between two crystalline interlayers. It is shown that the revealed layers are the layers of specific “boundary phases” not corresponding to any phase of the equilibrium phase diagram of the Cr–C–Ti system.     

Microstructural Characterization of Novel Ni-Containing Nd-Fe-B Strips by Strip Casting

The characteristics of novel Nd-Fe （Ni, Co, Al ）-B microstructure prepared by strip casting technique were studied. The novel microstructure was observed using scanning electron microscope （SEM） and transmission electron microscope （TEM）. Along the direction of heat flow, there are two kinds of different microstructures. Close to the wheel side, there is a thick layer containing many polygonal Nd2Fe14B grains. Near the free surface side, however, there are relative uniform platelike Nd2Fe14B grains whose growth direction is not completely the direction of the heat flow during solidification. The formation of the novel microstructure is presumed to be the contribution of the special temperature field and Ni component.     

Application of Rare Earth Magnet Nd-Fe-B in Solid-Liquid Separation

Application of Rare Earth Magnet Nd-Fe-B in Solid-Liquid Separation     

Optimization of Nb3SnCu superconductor wire prepared by the in situ process

The in situ process for preparing Nb₃SnCu superconductor wire produces the Nb₃Sn filaments in a bronze matrix from as-cast NbCu ingots. The ingots are drawn to produce a composite of aligned Nb filaments in a Cu matrix and following Sn plating a diffusion anneal converts Nb filaments to Nb₃Sn filaments. This work shows that an optimum size Nb filament is required to maximize critical current capacity. If the filaments are too big resistance of the Nb₃SnCuNb₃Sn junctions limit J_c. while if the filaments are too small coarsening occurs during the diffusion anneal and the junctions so formed limit J_c. It is shown that J_c values for wires of optimum filament size compare quite favorably to bronze processed Nb₃SnCu wire at fields as high as 15T.     

Interaction of hydrogen with dislocations in palladium—II. Interpretation of activity results by a fermi-dirac distribution

Measurements of the activity of hydrogen in deformed palladium have revealed a strong interaction with dislocations. Therefore, a Fermi-Dirac distribution was applied and the distribution function could be replaced by a step function similar to the electrons in metals. The “Fermi energy of hydrogen” is equal to the interaction energy and contains a contribution of −18kJ/mole H which was attributed to the formation of a hydride close to the dislocation core. The elastic contribution was calculated from the stress field of an edge dislocation and its dependence on the reciprocal distance from the dislocation core corresponds to a dependence on the reciprocal square root of concentration in agreement with experimental findings. Deviations from this behavior at small distances were explained by a failure of the continuum mechanical calculations of the stress field yielding a cut-off radius of one Burgers vector. The application of a step function is not allowed for high concentrations and numerical calculations were made showing that the hydride phase grows to a diameter of about 25 Å at concentrations of some thousand at.ppm H. Consistent results were evaluated at high and low concentrations for different degrees of deformation and for two temperatures.     

Improvement of microstructure and coercivity for Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets by boundary introducing low melting point alloys

Different from the grain boundary diffusion process(GBDP),which is suitable for modifying thin magnet,a green-pressing agents permeation process(GAPP) that uses low melting point alloys was applied to the Nd-Fe-B green compact with a thickness over 15 mm to reconstruct the boundary microstructure of a sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet.The coercivity increases from 12.3 kOe for the sample free of Pr_(80)Al_(20) to16.8 kOe for the sample with 2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20).By further increasing the Pr_(80)Al_(20) content to 3 wt%,the coercivity increases slightly,but the remanence and H_k/H_(cj) deteriorate obviously.The optimal comprehensive properties of H_(cj)=16.8 kOe,B_r=13.4 kG and H_k/H_(cj)=0.975 are obtained at 2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20),since matrix phase grains are separated by relatively continuous thin grain boundary layers,which weaken the magnetic coupling between adjacent grains.The coercivities of the samples from the GAPP that use2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20),Pr_(70)Al_(30) and Pr_(60)Tb_(20)Al_(20) alloys,respectively,can be enhanced to a large extent.However,the coercivity of the magnet reconstructed with Pr_(80)Al_(20) is lower than that of the sample with Pr_(60)Tb_(20)Al_(20) but is higher than that of the sample reconstructed with Pr_(70)Cu_(30) alloy.Moreover,the coercivity of the sample from the GAPP using 2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20) is much higher than that of the sample from the GBDP,which is due to a nearly uniform boundary microstructure from the surface to the interior of the thick magnet from the GAPP,thus providing new insights into the fabrication of thick and bulky permanent magnets with high coercivity.     

Effects of Pr-Cu-Ti intergranular addition on microstructure and magnetic properties of heavy-rare-earth-free Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets

By intergranular addition of Pr-Cu-Ti alloy powders in the Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets with the normal B component, we propose an approach to the optimization of grain boundary and local Nd-Fe-B composition system. The coercivity is enhanced from 1.42 to 1.86 T, while further addition leads to a reduction in remanence and coercivity. The analyses of phase composition reveal that Ti mainly exists in the form of metallic Ti alloy, and part of Ti combines with B to form the TiB₂ phase after the liquid phase sintering process. This process results in a consumption of B in the local Nd-Fe-B composition system and a change of the grain boundary component, which contributes to the formation process of the RE₆(Fe,M)₁₄ phase after the annealing process. Therefore, with the modification of grain boundary and composition system, the intergranular addition of Pr-Cu-Ti induces the generation of continuous thin grain boundary phases. It promotes the intergrain exchange decoupling, increasing the coercivity in the annealed magnet. While the excess addition results in the segregation of TiB₂, as well as the precipitation of TiB₂ into the Nd-Fe-B phase, which leads to structural defects. Thus, the further effort for the addition alloy with Ti to reduce the deterioration of the microstructure will lead to further improvement in magnetic properties.     

Influence of Pr-Al-Co alloy diffusion source on magnetic properties and microstructure of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets processed by grain boundary diffusion

In this study, the influence of the content of Al and Co in the diffusion source on the magnetic performance and microstructure of the diffused magnet was studied by grain boundary diffusion treatment with Pr₇₀Al_30–xCo_x (x = 0 at%, 10 at%, 15 at%, 20 at%, 30 at%) alloys. When the Co content in the diffusion source increases from 0 at% to 10 at%, the coercivity enhancement in the Pr₇₀Al₂₀Co₁₀ diffused magnet is the highest, increased from 1.62 to 2.24 T, higher than 2.01 T of the Pr₇₀Al₃₀ diffused magnet. With further increase of Co content in the diffused source, the coercivity of the diffused magnet decreases gradually, the coercivity of Pr₇₀Al₁₅Co₁₅, Pr₇₀Al₂₀Co₁₀ and Pr₇₀Co₃₀ diffused magnet is 2.15, 1.99 and 1.81 T, respectively. Microstructural analysis shows that plenty of continuous grain boundary phases (CGBPs) can be formed in the Pr₇₀Al₂₀Co₁₀ diffused magnet under the synergistic effect of Al and Co, which leads to the enhancement of magnetic isolation between more adjacent grains. However, the amount of CGBP in the diffused magnets gradually decreases with the further increase of Co content in the diffusion source.     

Magnetic properties and microstructures of terbium coated and grain boundary diffusion treated sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets by magnetron sputtering

Tb coating on the surface of commercial sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet was prepared by DC magnetron sputtering.The secondary heat treatment was used to regulate the microstructure for the enhancement of coercivity,namely diffusion treatment and annealing treatment.The coercivity increases significantly from 18.3 to 28.0 kOe,the remanence decreases slightly from 14.1 to 14.0 kGs,and the comprehensive magnetic properties are higher than 75(Hcj+(BH)_max=76.7).SEM results indicate that,on the one hand,950℃is the optimal diffusion temperature.Lower diffusion temperature results in insufficient diffusion of Tb element.Higher diffusion temperature can lead to the main phase grain growth,the decrease of Nd-rich phase,and forming holes in the magnet.On the other hand,500℃is the optimal annealing temperature.Lower annealing temperature can result in the reduction of Nd-rich phase.Higher annealing temperature can generate the non-defined Nd-rich thin layer between grains.     

Recent progress of grain boundary diffusion process for hot-deformed Nd-Fe-B magnets

Grain boundary diffusion process(GBDP) was first proposed for sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets to achieve the high utilization efficiency of heavy rare earth elements.Recent success of fabricating high performance nanocomposite magnets by GBDP indicates that this method also exerts huge applicable potential on hot-deformed Nd-Fe-B magnets.In this review,the development and magnetic property enhancement mechanisms of different diffusion methods proposed on hot-deformed magnets were thoroughly elucidated....     

Effect of MgCl2 on electrophoretic deposition of TbF3 powders on Nd-Fe-B sintered magnet

Using electrophoretic deposition(EPD) method,the TbF₃ powders were deposited on the surface of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets,and the effects of MgCl₂ on electrophoretic deposition and grain boundary diffusion were investigated.The results show that addition of 5 wt% MgCl₂ can significantly improve the EPD efficiency and improve the adhesion of the coating by releasing local stress through the formation of special gully morphology.Combining with Biesheuvel equation,the...     

Sandwiched structure of hot-deformed Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets processed by Nd-Cu eutectic alloys diffusion

A series of sandwiched structures with different near-surface mass fractions x(x=3 wt%,4 wt%,5 wt%)was employed to develop high-coercivity hot-deformed Nd-Fe-B magnets by the addition of 2 wt%Nd-Cu eutectic alloys via adjusting the middle thickness and near-surface thickness.The designed magnet with a pronounced composite structure shows a 23% increase in coercivity with a 6% loss of remanence by adjusting the sandwiched structure at 4 wt% Nd-Cu eutectic alloys in the near-surface regions.The results indicate that the near-surface Nd-Cu-rich "shell" structure can effectively suppress the magnetization reversal of overall magnets,enhancing the coercivity.With the help of loading stress,Nd-Cu liquid enriched at the near-surface regions of the sample is infiltrated into the Nd-Cu-lean middle region,resulting in a concentration gradient.Microstructure characterizations further demonstrate that the infiltrated Nd-Cu eutectic plays a critical role in inhibiting grain growth and intergranular magnetic interaction.The optimized microstructure features suppress the reversed magnetization process,which makes a positive contribution to coercivity.     

Improvement of coercivity and thermal stability of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets by intergranular addition of Tb80Fe20 alloy

To improve the coercivity and temperature stability of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets for high-temperature applications, the eutectic Tb₈₀Fe₂₀ (wt%) alloy powders were added into the Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets by intergranular method to enhance the coercivity (H_cj) and thermal stability. The microstructure, magnetic properties and thermal stability of the Nd-Fe-B magnets with different Tb₈₀Fe₂₀ contents were studied. The experimental results demonstrate that the coercivity (H_cj) of the sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet is significantly enhanced from 14.12 to 27.78 kOe, and the remanence (B_r) decreases not obviously by introducing 4 wt% Tb₈₀Fe₂₀ alloy. Meanwhile, the reversible temperature coefficients of coercivity (β) and remanence (α) of the Nd-Fe-B magnets are increased from ?0.5634%/℃ to ?0.4506%/℃ and ?0.1276%/℃ to ?0.1199%/℃ at 20–170 ℃, respectively. The Curie temperature (T_C) of the Nd-Fe-B magnet is slightly enhanced with the increase of Tb₈₀Fe₂₀ content. Moreover, the irreversible flux magnetic loss (h_irr) is obviously reduced as Tb₈₀Fe₂₀ addition increases. Further analysis of the microstructure reveals that a modified microstructure, i.e. clear and continuous RE-rich grain boundary layer, is acquired in the sintered magnets by introducing Tb₈₀Fe₂₀ alloy. The associated mechanisms on improved coercivity and thermal stability were comprehensively researched.     

Microstructural investigation of Nd-rich phase in sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets through electron microscopy

The distribution, morphologies and structures of intergranular Nd-rich phase in sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets were studied through electron microscopy. Backscattered electron (BSE) imaging revealed that Nd-rich particles with various morphologies and sizes were randomly distributed at the grain boundaries and the triple junctions of the tetragonal Nd2Fe14B matrix. Through selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis under a systematic tilting condition, most intergranular Nd-rich phase particles, with sizes ranging from hundreds of nanometres to several micrometres, were identified as face-centred cubic (FCC) structure. Such particles possessed several approximate orientation relationships with their adjacent Nd2Fe14B matrix grains, such as (002) Nd2Fe14B//(200) FCC_Nd-rich [120] Nd2Fe14B//[001] FCC_Nd-rich , (002) Nd2Fe14B//( 220 ) FCC_Nd-rich [110] Nd2Fe14B//[112] FCC_Nd-rich , as well as (011) Nd2Fe14B//(131) FCC_Nd-rich [111] Nd2Fe14B//[114] FCC_Nd-rich , which could be attributed to minimising interfacial energy. The combination of highresolution electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the internal inhomogeneous nature of Nd-rich phases. The large lattice distortion and nanoscale-ordered structures within a single Nd-rich grain were observed.