Jiaying Jin , Wang Chen , Yongming Tao , Hansheng Chen , Liang Zhou , Xinhua Wang , Chen Wu , Simon P. Ringer , Mi Yan
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Control of the REFe2 (RE = rare earth) intergranular phase is of vital importance for developing Ce-rich Nd–Ce–Fe–B magnets that can rival the performance of conventional Nd–Fe–B magnets. Here we systematically investigate the evolution of the REFe2 phase in a multi-main-phase Ce12.8(Pr, Nd)19.2Fe65.33MbalB0.9 magnet (Ce/total RE = 40 wt. %) triggered by wide-range post-sinter annealing (300–950 °C). Following a scan of the temperature dependence of coercivity, two annealing temperatures of 420 °C and 650 °C yield higher coercivity, but via different mechanisms. 420 °C annealing facilitates the formation of the REFe2 phase, and partially thickened grain boundary (GB). 650 °C annealing results in the decomposition of the REFe2 phase, and its re-formation during furnace cooling. In fact, comparing cooling from 650 °C via water-quenching, air-cooling, and furnace-cooling demonstrates that the latter (slowest) cooling rate yields the maximum REFe2 phase fraction of 5.4 wt.%. Significantly, the formation of this REFe2 phase is accompanied by the expulsion of Ce from RE2Fe14B matrix shell, and the concomitant infiltration of Nd into the RE2Fe14B matrix shell. As a result, a maximum compositional difference between Nd and Ce in the RE2Fe14B matrix shell is recorded in the 650 °C furnace-cooled sample ([Nd]shell – [Ce]shell = 7.1 wt.%), yielding a maximum coercivity of 12.6 kOe. This work unveils the temperature-dependent evolution of the REFe2 phase in Nd–Ce–Fe–B sintered magnets, and the nature and kinetics of the Ce and Nd redistribution.
期刊介绍:
Acta Materialia serves as a platform for publishing full-length, original papers and commissioned overviews that contribute to a profound understanding of the correlation between the processing, structure, and properties of inorganic materials. The journal seeks papers with high impact potential or those that significantly propel the field forward. The scope includes the atomic and molecular arrangements, chemical and electronic structures, and microstructure of materials, focusing on their mechanical or functional behavior across all length scales, including nanostructures.