Preferential crystallite orientation in melt spun NdFeB permanent magnet materials

Abstract

Melt spun NdFeB flakes have been produced which show a pronounced texture with the c axis perpendicular to the surface. The volume fraction of preferentially oriented crystallites at the surface and in the bulk were determined by X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements respectively. The texture is most pronounced in slowly quenched flakes, and shows a strong dependence on composition. Optimally quenched flakes show a slightly improved (BH)_max energy product (120kJ m⁻³) compared with optimally quenched untextured flakes.