Beneficial effect of Co substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed (Pr,Tb)–Fe–(C,B) magnets

The effect of Co substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed Pr₁₄Tb₂Fe_76−xCo_xC₆B₂ and Pr₁₆Fe_76−xCo_xC₆B₂ (x=0–20$x=0–20$) alloys has been studied systematically. The main phase in the alloys is Pr₂Fe₁₄C-type carbide, coexisting with a small amount of α-Fe and rare-earth-rich phases. In addition to the increasing of the Curie temperature of the Pr₂Fe₁₄C-type phase, Co substitution can affect the magnetic properties by adjusting the α-Fe fraction of the alloys. The increase of both coercivity and remanence has been realized in a certain composition range. This increase may be attributed mainly to the enhancement of the effective anisotropy constant _Keff$K_{\mathrm{eff}}$ of the magnets due to the reduced α-Fe fraction with a small Co addition. The highest coercivity _iH_c of 20.3 kOe and the optimum energy product (BH)_max of 10.3 MG Oe have been obtained for the Pr₁₄Tb₂Fe_69.5Co_6.5C₆B₂ alloy.     

Structure and magnetic phase diagram of mixed rare-earth Nd1−xTbxFe10.5Mo1.5 compounds

The structural and magnetic properties of Nd_1−xTb_xFe_10.5Mo_1.5 (x=0$x=0$, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) compounds have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. All the investigated compounds crystallize in the tetragonal ThMn₁₂-type structure with I4/mmm space group. The lattice parameters a, c and the unit-cell volume V decrease with increasing x. The Curie temperatures T_C are almost independent x. There exists a unique spin-reorientation transition for the end compositions of Nd_1−xTb_xFe_10.5Mo_1.5 compounds with x=0$x=0$ and x=1$x=1$, while two spin-reorientation transitions are observed for x=0.2–0.8$x=0.2–0.8$. The room-temperature magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Nd_1−xTb_xFe_10.5Mo_1.5 compounds changes from uniaxial to planar with increasing x content. Based on magnetic measurements, a magnetic phase diagram of Nd_1−xTb_xFe_10.5Mo_1.5 compounds is constructed. By minimizing the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, a theoretical magnetic phase diagram for the Nd_1−xTb_xFe_10.5Mo_1.5 system is derived, showing a reasonable agreement with the observations.     

A magnetic, magnetostrictive and Mössbauer study of Tb0.3Dy0.7−xPrx(Fe0.9Al0.1)1.95 alloys

The effect of Pr substitution for Dy on the magnetization, magnetostriction, anisotropy and spin reorientation of a series of Tb_0.3Dy_0.7−xPr_x(Fe_0.9Al_0.1)_1.95 alloys (x=0, 0.1, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35) at room temperature has been investigated. It was found that the magnetization and magnetostriction of the homogenized Tb_0.3Dy_0.7−xPr_x(Fe_0.9Al_0.1)_1.95 alloys decreases drastically with increasing x and the magnetostrictive effect disappears for x>0.2, but the spontaneous magnetostriction λ₁₁₁ increases approximately linearly with increasing x. Moreover, the magnetostriction exhibits slightly bigger value at x=0.1 than the free alloys and is saturated more easily with the magnetic field H, showing that a small amount of Pr substitution is beneficial to a decrease in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The analysis of the Mössbauer spectra indicated that the easy magnetization direction in the {1 1 0} plane deviates slightly from the main axis of symmetry with Pr concentration x, namely spin reorientation. Comparing with the Al substitution, the effect of Pr substitution for Dy on the spin reorientation is smaller.     

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Dy(Co1−xFex)2 alloys

Polycrystalline samples of Laves-phase alloys Dy(Co_1−xFe_x)₂(x=0$x=0$, 0.02,0.04,0.06,0.08) have been prepared by arc-melting method. No first order phase transition was observed for samples with x≠0$x\ne 0$. With the increase of Fe content, the Curie temperature increases greatly, while the calculated magnetic entropy change, ΔS_M, shows an obvious decrease with a broader peak. The origin of the magnetocaloric effect in Dy(Co_1−xFe_x)₂ alloys has been discussed.     

Magnetostriction, Curie temperature and microstructure of Tb0.29(Dy1−xPrx)0.71Fe1.97 oriented alloys

The Tb_0.29(Dy_1−xPr_x)_0.71Fe_1.97 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) alloys were prepared by directional solidification method. The orientation, magnetostriction λ, Curie temperature T_c and microstructure of alloys were characterized by XRD, standard resistant strain gauge technique, VSM and SEM-EDS. The results reveal that the alloys have a preferred orientation of 〈1 1 0〉 and 〈1 1 3〉 direction when x>0. With the increase in Pr content, the T_c of alloys decreases gradually and the non-cubic phase appears, resulting in the decline of λ dramatically, from 1935.2×10⁻⁶ for x=0 to 695.9×10⁻⁶ for x=0.3 at a compressive stress of 6 MPa and a magnetic field of H=240 kA m⁻¹.     

Structure and magnetostriction of RFex (1.6 ? x ? 2.0) and R(Fe1−yTiy)1.8 (y ? 0.2) alloys (RDy0.65Tb0.25Pr0.1)

Structure, Curie temperature and magnetostriction of RFe_x (1.6 ? x ? 2.0) and R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 (y ? 0.2) alloys (RDy_0.65Tb_0.25Pr_0.1) have been investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, AC initial susceptibility and standard strain gauge techniques. The homogenized RFe_x alloys are found to be essentially single phase in the range of 1.8 ? x ? 1.85. The second phase is a rare-earth-rich phase when x ? 1.8, and (Dy, Tb, Pr)Fe₃ phase when x ? 1.85. X-ray diffraction indicates that the R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 alloys contain a small amount of Fe₂Ti phase when y ? 0.05, which increases with the increment of Ti content. The Curie temperature of R(Fe₁−_yTi_y)_1.8 alloys slightly enhances with increasing Ti concentration when y ? 0.05, then remains almost unchanged in the range of 0.05 ? y ? 0.20. The magnetostriction of RFe_x alloys is improved when x ? 1.80 and reduced by increasing Fe content when x ? 1.85. The magnetostriction of R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 alloys is lowered by increasing Ti content.     

Effect of Mg substitution on electromagnetic properties of (Ni0.25Cu0.20Zn0.55)Fe2O4 ferrite prepared by auto combustion method

The ferrite compositions of (Ni_0.25−xMg_xCu_0.2Zn_0.55)Fe₂O₄ with x=0.0$x=0.0$, 0.07, 0.13, 0.18, and 0.25 were synthesized through nitrate-citrate auto-combustion method. The as-burnt powders showed the presence of crystalline cubic spinel ferrite with about 19–22 nm crystallite sizes. The resultant powders were calcined at 700 °C/2 h and pressed ferrites were sintered at 950 °C/4 h. The initial permeability, magnetic loss and AC resistivity were measured in the frequency range 10 Hz–10 MHz. The permeability and AC resistivity were found to increase and the magnetic loss decreased with Mg substitution for Ni, up to x=0.18$x=0.18$. The very high permeability in the composition x=0.18$x=0.18$, was due to better densification, lower magnetostriction constant and inner stresses, etc. The AC resistivity of the composition was also highest. The composition would be better than NiCuZn-based material for more miniaturization of multi layer chip inductor.     

Structure,magnetic properties and magnetostriction of laves compounds Nd1−xPrx(Fe0.35Co0.55B0.1)2

The C15 Laves phases with composition Nd_1−xPr_x(Fe_0.35Co_0.55B_0.1)₂ (0?x?1) have been synthesized by arc melting and subsequent annealing. The Curie temperature T_c and the saturation magnetizations M_s at 5 and 295 K decrease with increasing Pr content. The linear anisotropic magnetostriction λ_a=λ_∥−λ_⊥ at room temperature for Nd_1−xPr_x(Fe_0.35Co_0.55B_0.1)₂ alloys with 0?x?0.4 initially reaches a negative minimum, then increases and changes its sign with increasing magnetic field H, and the λ_a for the alloys with x?0.6 is positive and increases as magnetic field H increases.     

Magnetocaloric effect of Gd5SixSn4−x Alloys

The crystal structure and magnetocaloric effect of Gd₅Si_xSn_4−x   (with x=2.4$x=2.4$, 2.6 and 2.8) alloys were studied by means of X-ray power diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurements. From the XRD results, these alloys adopt a Gd₅Si₄-type structure for x=2.8$x=2.8$, Gd₅Si₄-type and Gd₅Si₂Ge₂-type mixed structures for x=2.4$x=2.4$ and 2.6, while some minor phases can also be found. The Curie temperatures of the Gd₅Si_xSn_4−x increases gradually when x increases from 276 K for x=2.4$x=2.4$, to 301.5 K for x=2.8$x=2.8$. Magnetic entropy changes of these alloys at a magnetic field change of 0–1.8 T are 1.88, 2.26 and 1.69 J/kg K for x=2.4$x=2.4$, 2.6 and 2.8, respectively. The temperature-dependent XRD analysis shows that there is no crystallographic transition for these alloys, which can explain their low magnetic entropy changes.     

Permeability-frequency spectra of (Fe1−xcox)73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 nanocrystalline alloys under different magnetic fields

Under various amplitude of AC magnetic fields domain wall motion is the main mechanism in the magnetization process. This includes domain wall bulging and domain wall displacing. In this paper complex permeability-frequency spectra of (Fe_1−xCo_x)_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B₉ (x=0,0.5$x=0,0.5$) nanocrystalline alloys were measured as a function of the AC magnetic field, ranging from 0.001 to 0.04 Oe. Obvious changes have been found in complex permeability spectra for alloy x=0$x=0$ with the change of the amplitude of AC magnetic field, but variation of AC magnetic field has little effect on complex permeability spectra for alloy x=0.5$x=0.5$. This is attributed to the increased pinning field after substitution of Fe with Co in Fe_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B₉ nanaocrystalline alloy.     

Structure, spin reorientation and M?ssbauer effect studies of Tb0.3Dy0.7(Fe1?xAlx)1.95 alloys

The effect of Al substitution for Fe on crystal structure, magnetostriction and spontaneous magnetostriction, anisotropy and spin reorientation of a series of polycrystalline Tb_0.3Dy_0.7(Fe_1−x Al_x)_1.95 alloys (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35) at room temperature and 77 K was investigated systematically. It was found that the primary phase of Tb_0.3Dy_0.7(Fe_1−x Al_x)_1.95 is the MgCu₂-type cubic Laves phase structure when x < 0.4 and the lattice constant a of Tb_0.3Dy_0.7(Fe_1−x Al_x)_1.95 increases approximately and monotonically with the increase of x. The substitution of Al leads to the fact that the magnetostriction λ inceases slightly in a low magnetic field (H ⩽ 40 kA/m), but decreases sharply and is easily close to saturation in a high applied field as x increases, showing that a small amount of Al substitution is beneficial to a decrease in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. It was also found that the spontaneous magnetostriction λ ₁₁₁ decreases greatly with x increasing. The analysis of the M?ssbauer spectra indicated that the easy magnetization direction in the {110} plane deviates slightly from the main axis of symmetry with the changes of composition and temperature, namely spin reorientation. A small amount of non-magnetic phase exists for x = 0.15 in Tb_0.3Dy_0.7(Fe_1−x Al_x)_1.95 alloys and the alloys become paramagnetic for x > 0.15 at room temperature, but at 77 K the alloys still remain magnetic phase even for x = 0.2. At room temperature and 77 K, the hyperfine field decreases and the isomer shifts increase with Al concentration increasing.     

Structure and magnetostriction of RFex (1.6 x 2.0) and R(Fe1−yTiy)1.8 (y 0.2) alloys (R=Dy0.65Tb0.25Pr0.1)

Structure, Curie temperature and magnetostriction of RFe_x (1.6 x 2.0) and R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 (y 0.2) alloys (R=Dy_0.65Tb_0.25Pr_0.1) have been investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, AC initial susceptibility and standard strain gauge techniques. The homogenized RFe_x alloys are found to be essentially single phase in the range of 1.8 x 1.85. The second phase is a rare-earth-rich phase when x 1.8, and (Dy, Tb, Pr)Fe₃ phase when x 1.85. X-ray diffraction indicates that the R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 alloys contain a small amount of Fe₂Ti phase when y 0.05, which increases with the increment of Ti content. The Curie temperature of R(Fe₁−_yTi_y)_1.8 alloys slightly enhances with increasing Ti concentration when y 0.05, then remains almost unchanged in the range of 0.05 y 0.20. The magnetostriction of RFe_x alloys is improved when x 1.80 and reduced by increasing Fe content when x 1.85. The magnetostriction of R(Fe_1−yTi_y)_1.8 alloys is lowered by increasing Ti content.     

Ferromagnetic resonance studies on (Co40Fe40B20)x(SiO2)1−x granular magnetic films

Magnetic properties of granular (Co₄₀Fe₄₀B₂₀)_x(SiO₂)_1−x   thin films (x=0.37-0.53$x=0.37-0.53$) have been studied by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique. Samples have been prepared by ion-beam deposition of Co–Fe–B particles and SiO₂ on sitall ceramic substrate. The FMR measurements have been done for different orientations of DC magnetic field with respect to the sample plane. It was found that the deduced value of effective magnetization from FMR data of the thin granular film is reduced by the volume-filling factor of the bulk saturation magnetization. The overall magnetization changes from 152 to 515 G depending on the ratio of the magnetic nanoparticles in the SiO₂ matrix. From angular measurements an induced in-plane uniaxial anisotropy has been obtained due to the preparation of the film conditions as well.     

Structural characterization and magnetization of Mg0.7Zn0.3SmxFe2−xO4 ferrites

Mg_0.7Zn_0.3Sm_xFe_2−xO₄ ferrites were prepared by the solid-state reaction method and were characterized by X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. A single spinel phase was obtained in the range 0.00?x?0.03$0.00?x?0.03$. The lattice parameter was found to increase at x=0.01$x=0.01$ and then decreases up to x=0.03$x=0.03$, which may indicate a distortion in the spinel lattice. The saturation magnetization was found to decrease with the increase in x up to 0.04, due to the replacement of the Fe³⁺ ions by the Sm³⁺ ions.     

Structure and magnetic properties of melt-spun Tb0.27Dy0.73Fex ribbons

The structure and magnetic properties of the melt-spun ribbons of Tb_0.27Dy_0.73Fe_x alloy are investigated as a function of various wheel speeds during melt-quenching using a single-roll technique. It is found that Tb_0.27Dy_0.73Fe_x alloy is difficult to be fabricated as amorphous state by using the melt-quenching method. X-ray diffractions show that all these ribbons for x=1.7−2.0 are the MgCu₂-type phase at the wheel speed of 45 m s⁻¹. For Tb_0.27Dy_0.73Fe_x alloy, the high wheel speed is beneficial to eliminate the RFe₃ phase and form the perfect MgCu₂-type phase. Compared with the bulk of Tb_0.27Dy_0.73Fe_1.95, these ribbons exhibit higher intrinsic coercivity value and their saturation magnetizations increase as well. The magnetostriction of Tb_0.27Dy_0.73Fe_1.95 composite with 4% epoxy resin is 640×10⁻⁶ at 900 kA m⁻¹.     

Giant forced volume magnetostriction in polycrystalline Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95 alloys under magnetomechanical loading

The axial and transversal linear magnetostrictions (λ_∥ and λ_⊥) in [1 1 0] oriented polycrystalline Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.95 alloys were measured simultaneously under uniaxial magnetomechanical loading to get the forced volume magnetostriction (ω=λ_∥+2λ_⊥). Despite the almost zero ω observed in Terfenol-D single crystals, it reaches up to 1000×10⁻⁶ in polycrystalline Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.95 alloys near the saturation magnetic field under a stress above 50 MPa.     

High magnetostriction at low fields of (Tb1−xDyx)0.2Pr0.8(Fe0.4Co0.6)1.88C0.05 intermetallic compounds

The structure and magnetostriction of the (Tb_1−xDy_x)_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.88C_0.05 intermetallic compounds (0≤x≤1) were studied by X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The formation of an approximate single Laves phase with a MgCu2-type cubic structure was observed in this series of compounds. It was found that the Curie temperature and the saturation magnetization of the compounds would decrease with increase in the Dy content up to x=1. The magnetostriction λ_a (λ_a=λ_‖-λ_⊥) gently rises when x≤0.6, and follows with a precipitous fall when x exceeds 0.6, with the highest value of λ_a being reached in the compounds with x=0.6. The magnetostriction of all the samples was observed to approach their own saturation in the magnetic fields higher than 4 kOe. This indicates that the addition of a small amount of Dy could effectively improve the low-field magnetostriction of the Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.88C_0.05 compounds, which could become a kind of promising magnetostrictive material.     

Effect of Co ions on the microstructure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline CoxFe3−xO4 films

Co_xFe_3−xO₄ nanocrystalline films (x=0.2-0.8$x=0.2-0.8$) on SiO₂ substrates were prepared by a sol–gel method. The microstructural and magnetic properties of samples were measured by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface image of the sample. The measurement results of XRD at room temperature show that the pure spinel structure of the film could be obtained at x=0.8$x=0.8$. The magnetic measurements reveal the magnetic properties of the samples depend strongly on Co²⁺ ions content, and the optimal parameters of the saturation magnetization and coercivity in Co_xFe_3−xO₄films are obtained at x=0.8$x=0.8$. Here the coercivity reaches 1.954 kOe. The average grain sizes of the film are less than 30 nm obtained from the microscopy images. The situ measurement at high temperatures of range from 293 to 773 K shows that the microstructures of Co_0.8Fe_2.2O₄ film have good thermal stabilization.     

Thermal expansion and magnetostriction in Pr(n+2)(n+1)Nin(n−1)+2Sin(n+1) compounds

Thermal expansion and magnetostriction of members of a homologous series of compounds based on the alloy series Pr_(n+2)(n+1)Ni_n(n−1)+2Si_n(n+1) have been measured. The crystal structures of these compounds are closely interrelated because they form trigonal prismatic columns in which the number of trigonal prisms that form the base of the trigonal columns is determined by the value of n in the chemical formula. Two compositions were investigated, Pr₅Ni₂Si₃ and Pr₁₅Ni₇Si₁₀, corresponding to n=3$n=3$ and n=4,$n=4,$ respectively. The results were analyzed and used to determine the location of magnetic phase transitions by calculating the magnetic contribution to thermal expansion using the Gruneisen–Debye theory. This allowed more precise determination of the magnetic transition temperatures than could be achieved using the total thermal expansion. The results show two phase transitions in each material, one corresponding to the Curie temperature and the other at a lower temperature exhibiting characteristics of a spin reorientation transition.