Microstructures and magnetic properties of FePt permanent magnets

We have investigated the magnetic properties of Fe38.5Pt, Fe39.5Pt and Fe50.0Pt (at%) alloys after various heat treatment conditions using a vibrating sample magnetometer, and correlated these properties with the microstructures of the alloys by transmission electron microscopy. The Fe50Pt alloy shows poor magnetic hardness regardless of the heat treatment conditions. The magnetic hardness of the Fe39.5Pt alloy shows a maximum value after annealing for 10 h at 873 K, while it monotonically decreases after annealing at 1073 K. The alloy with the highest coercivity was composed of a single phase γ₁ with an average domain size of approximately 10 nm. The electron diffraction results indicate that the alloy is frustrated with accumulated stress, induced by a cubic → tetragonal transformation which occurs without twinning. On the other hand, when stress is relieved by twin formation after prolonged aging, the coercivity decreases. By annealing at 1073 K, the well known polytwin structure evolves. However, only poor hard magnetic properties are observed when this polytwin structure appears. Hence, the highest coercivity is attributed to the formation of nanoscale L1₀ ordered antiphase domains which is expected to be a highly anisotropic single domain magnetic particle.     

Formation of L10-FeNi hard magnetic material from FeNi-based amorphous alloys

L1₀-FeNi hard magnetic alloy with coercivity reaching 861 Oe was synthesized through annealing Fe₄₂Ni_41.3Si₈B₄P₄Cu_0.7 amorphous alloy, and the L1₀-FeNi formation mechanism has been studied. It is found the L1₀-FeNi in annealed samples at 400 ℃ mainly originated from the residual amorphous phase during the second stage of crystallization which could take place over 60 ℃ lower than the measured onset temperature of the second stage with a 5 ℃/min heating rate. Annealing at 400 ℃ after fully crystallization still caused a slight increase of coercivity, which was probably contributed by the limited transformation from other high temperature crystalline phases towards L1₀ phase, or the removal of B from L1₀ lattice and improvement of the ordering quality of L1₀ phase due to the reduced temperature from 520 ℃ to 400 ℃. The first stage of crystallization has hardly direct contribution to L1₀-FeNi formation. Ab initio simulations show that the addition of Si or Co in L1₀-FeNi has the effect of enhancing the thermal stability of L1₀ phase without seriously deteriorating its magnetic hardness. The non-monotonic feature of direction dependent coercivity in ribbon segments resulted from the combination of domain wall pinning and demagnetization effects. The approaches of synthesizing L1₀-FeNi magnets by adding Si or Co and decreasing the onset crystallization temperature have been discussed in detail.     

Improvement of the magnetic properties of low-neodymium magnets by minor addition of titanium

Rapidly solidified nanocomposite Nd₉Fe_77−xB₁₄Ti_x alloys, consisting of magnetic Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase and soft magnetic phases, were investigated. The effect of titanium addition on the structure and magnetic properties was studied. It was found that 2–4 at% Ti addition leads to substantial increase of the coercivity and maximum energy product, maintaining the remanence unchanged. The highest properties: J_r=0.81 T, _JH_c=907 kA/m, (BH)_max=99 kJ/m³, were achieved for the Nd₉Fe₇₃B₁₄Ti₄ alloy. This effect we attribute to the formation of fine and homogeneous grain structure and a change of the phase morphology in the Ti-containing alloys. The initial magnetization curve indicates a change of the coercivity mechanisms giving rise to pinning of domain walls, which is caused by reduction of the crystallite size.     

Cobalt substituted R---Fe(Co)---C alloys

The formation of tetragonal R₂(FeCo)₁₄C phase has been examined in as-cast and melt-spun R₁₄Fe_78−xCo_xC₈ alloys with cobalt substitutions (R = Y, Dy, Nd). The magnetic properties over a temperature range and the microstructure have been studied as a function of cobalt content. The Curie temperature is increased with Co content but the anisotropy K is decreased. High cobalt content leads to the formation of 1:5 phase. High corecivities have been developed in as-cast and melt-spun Dy₁₄Fe_78−xCo_xC₈ alloys with Co content at zero and 32 at %, respectively. As-cast Nd₁₆Fe_78−xCo_xC₈ alloys did not show any permanent magnetic properties although they had the 2:14:1 phase. However, melt-spun and powdered Nd---Fe---Co---C samples showed a coercivity with the highest value corresponding to a melt-spun Nd₁₄Fe₇₈C₈ sample. Microstructure studies showed that the high H_C in ribbons is due to the fine grain size which is in the range of 500–1000 Å.     

The effect of thickness and annealing condition on the microstructure and magnetic properties of Fe/Pt multilayer thin films

[Fe(0.5 nm)/Pt(0.5 nm)]₄₀, [Fe(1 nm)/Pt(1.5 nm)]₂₀ and [Fe(3 nm)/Pt(3 nm)]₁₀ multilayer were prepared by DC magnetron sputtering. By conventional furnace annealing (CA) at 270–600 °C for various time, all of the films still remained the disordered structure with the soft magnetic phase. By rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 500 °C for various time, we obtained the [Fe(1 nm)/Pt(1.5 nm)]₂₀ and [Fe(3 nm)/Pt(3 nm)]₁₀ films with L1₂ ordered FePt₃ phase which was almost ferromagnetic at room temperature. However, the [Fe(0.5 nm)/Pt(0.5 nm)]₄₀ films was still disordered state even under RTA. Compared with CA, RTA exposed an outstanding effect on accelerating the phase transition when the film thickness is over [Fe(0.5 nm)/Pt(0.5 nm)]₄₀.     

Structural, magnetic and transport properties of NiFeχAg(1−χ) heterogeneous alloys

We carried out a comprehensive study of structural, magnetic and electrotransport properties of as-deposited and annealed (Ni₈₀Fe₂₀)_χAg(_1−χ) heterogenous alloys prepared by sputtering. The NiFe atomic concentration was varied between 15% and 40%. These alloys consist of small magnetic particles (Ni₈₀Fe₂₀) embedded in a nonmagnetic matrix (Ag). The structures of these alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution cross-section transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic measurements were made using SQUID magnetometry and ferromagnetic resonance. Magnetoresistance was measured with a conventional four-point probe between 1.5 K and room temperature in field range 0–6T. Three contributions to the magnetoresistance of these granular alloys have been clearly identified: the spin-valve (or giant) magnetoresistance as in multilayers, scattering on magnetic fluctuations (as in any ferromagnetic metal around its magnetic ordering temperature), and anisotropic magnetoresistance. These three contributions have their own dependences on the size of the magnetic particles, on the degree of intermixing between Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ and Ag, and on temperature. We discuss the different shapes and amplitudes of magnetoresistance versus Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ concentration or temperature and their evolution upon annealing in terms of the relative roles of these three contributions. The magnetoresistance in multilayers (current in-plane or perpendicular to the plane) and granular alloys are also compared.     

MAGNETIC PROPERTIES AND CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE RAPIDLY QUENCHED (Fe1-xNdx) 81.5B18.5 ALLOYS

Magnetic properties and crystallization behaviors of amorphous (Fe_1-xNd_x) _81.5B_18.5 alloys were studied. The crystallization temperature is found to rise at first and then drop monotonically with x, having a maximum value of 976K at x=0.11 (9at% Nd). The (Fe_1-xNd_x) _81.5B_18.5 alloys prepared at a quenching rate of v_s = 6.6m /s are amorphous, and exhibit good glass formability. Both the coercive field H_c and energy product (BH)_max depend strongly on Nd concentration. Amorphous (Fe_1-xNd_x) _81.5B_18.5 alloys with higher Nd concentration have a high coercive field at low temperature, due to the large random uniaxial anisotropy of Nd. The room-temperature H_c and (BH)_max obtained on optimal annealing con-ditions show two maxima as a function of Nd concentration x. The highest room-temperature coercive field H_c =22 kOe within the Nd concentrations around x=0.368 and the maximum energy product(RH)_max= 13.3 MG·Oe at x =0.055 are observed. The hard magnetic properties of these crystallized samples are related to the presence of the bard magnetic Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase.     

Low temperature magnetic and magnetostrictive properties in Pr(Fe_(1-x)Co_x)_(1.9) cubic Laves alloys

The structures,spin reorientations,magnetic,and magnetostrictive properties of the polycrystalline Pr(Fe_(1-x)Co_x)_(1.9)(x=0–1.0)cubic laves phase alloys between 5 K and 300 K are investigated.Large low-field magnetostrictions are observed at 5 K in the alloys with x=0.2 and 0.4 due to the low magnetic anisotropies of these two alloys.A large negative magnetostriction of about-1130 ppm is found in PrCo_(1.9) alloy at 5 K.The magnetizations of the alloys with 0≤x≤0.6decrease abnormally at the spin reorientation temperature T_(sr),and an abnormity is detected in the alloy with x=1.0 at its Curie temperature T_c(45 K).The substitution of Fe by Co increases the value of T_(sr) in the alloy with x value increasing from 0.0 to 0.4,and then reduces the value of Tsr with x value further increasing to 0.6.     

Structure and magneto-optical properties of fine-grain garnet thin films

The structure and magneto-optical properties of fine-grain garnet thin films crystallized by the rapid recurrent thermal annealing (RRTA) method have been studied. The RRAT method has been used to crystallize BiGaDyIG garnet single-layer or BiGaDyIG/AI double-layer films and to get nanometer grain size (about 30–50 nm), which results in a large Faraday rotation angle, a smoother surface and fewer voids in the films. Meanwhile we have discovered that the Faraday rotation angle increases with the number of recurrences during the rapid annealing and quenching. With the more recurrent annealing one can not only get a strong Faraday effect, but it suppresses the appearance of DyFeO₃ phase in garnet films, which has been explained very well. By applying the new method, the as-deposited films have been succesfully crystallized to the (BiDy)₃(FeGa)₅O₁₂ garnet phase. They exhibited excellent magneto-optical properties with a coercivity of about 1500 Oe and effective Faraday rotation angle of 1.5°. The composition, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of the crystallized garnet films have been examined.     

Effects of thermal annealing on structural and magnetic properties of thin Pt/Cr/Co multilayers

Thermal stability of thin Pt/Cr/Co multilayers and the subsequent changes in their structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties are reported. We observe CoCrPt ternary alloy phase formation due to annealing at temperatures about 773 K, which is accompanied by enhancement in the coercivity value. In addition, 360° domain wall superimposed on a monodomain like background has been observed in the pristine multilayer, which changes into a multidomain upon annealing at 873 K.     

Effects of crystallographic ordering on the magnetic behaviour of (AgIn)1-zMn2zTe2 and (CuIn)1-zMn2zTe2 alloys

Measurements of magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 4.2–300 K were made on polycrystalline samples of the (AgIn)_{1 - z}Mn_2zTe₂ and (CuIn)_{1 - z}Mn_2zTe₂ alloys, and the data used to give values of spin-glass transition te mperature T_g and Curie-Weiss paramagnetic temperature θ. For any sample for which the X-ray powder photograph indicated an apparently single phase condition, either zinc-blende or chalcopyrite, the susceptibility data could show up to three separate T_g values. These different magnetic conditions are attributed to crystallographic ordering of the Mn ions on the chalcopyrite and zinc-blende lattices, the three observed T_g values corresponding to disordered zinc-blende, ordered zinc-blende and ordered chalcopyrite. The value of θ obtained from the 1/χ vs. T plot is shown to be a weighted mean of the separate values of θ for the phases present. The relative sizes of the T_g peaks and the values of θ for any given sample gives an indication of the amount of each phase present. These amounts were varied by using different methods of heat treatment and it was shown that the magnetic behaviour was consistent with the T(z) phase diagram for the two alloy systems.     

Low-temperature phase and magnetic interactions in FCC Fe-Cr-Ni alloys

The low-temperature (5 K < T < 300 K) magnetic properties of a set of nine isostructural fcc Fe-Cr-Ni (Fe ≈ 68 at %, Cr ≈ 20 at%, Ni ≈ 9 at%) alloys were studied by SQUID magnetometry, neutron diffraction and ultrasonic techniques. Type-1 antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering was observed below the Néel temperature, T_N. The dc susceptibility, χ(T), did not exhibit a simple Curie-Weiss dependence. Above T_N, atemperature independent component χ₀ was observed, i.e., χ(T) = χ₀ + C / (itT + θ. T_N was systematically influenced by the lattice parameter, a, decreasing from (47.9 ± 0.5) K to (35.0 ± 0.5) K as a increased by only 0.25%. The average magnetic moment of ≈ 0.6μ_B obtained from neutron scattering was lower than the ≈ 1 μ_B obtained from the SQUID data. Mean field estimates of antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbors exchange interaction (J₁) and ferromagnetic second-nearest-neighbors interaction (J₂) indicate that |J₂/J₁|≈ 1.5. We believe that this is evidence of the RKKY interaction, and self-consistently argue that only the external d electrons are responsible for the localized average moment. This may mean that s-d hybridization of the external electrons is weak in these alloys.     

Magnetic and microstructural investigations of melt-spun Fe(NdPr)B

The magnetic behavior of rapidly solidified FePrB was investigated in the composition range Fe_77+χPr₁₅B_8−χ (0 ≤ χ ≤ 4). Furthermore, the magnetic and microstructural properties of Fe(NdPr)B were analyzed in the range Fe₇₈(Nd_χPr_1−χ)₁₅B₇ (0 ≤ χ ≤ 1). The temperature dependence of the critical field was analyzed with a modified form of Brown's expression for the nucleation field. From this analysis the values for the microstructural parameters, _K and N_eff, were determined which describe the deteriorating effects of the non-ideal microstructure on the coercivity.     

Y对Fe-Si-B 合金非晶形成能力及软磁性能的影响

本文通过铜模吸铸法和单辊甩带法分别制备出一系列楔形试样和非晶条带试样, 系统研究了稀土金属Y对Fe₇₈Si₉B₁₃合金非晶形成能力及其软磁性能的影响. 结果表明, 少量Y取代 Fe-Si-B 非晶合金中的Fe 可大大提高该合金的非晶形成能力并促进过冷液相区的产生. 当Y含量为3 at.%时, 合金具有最大的非晶形成能力, 其临界厚度为313 μm, 相应的非晶过冷液相区宽度达到65 K. 该系列非晶合金具有优良的软磁性能, 其矫顽力(H_c)均低于200 A/m, Y含量为1 at.%时, 饱和磁感应强度(B_s) 达到最大值1.67 T.     

Effect of ordering transformation rate on the magnetic properties of Fe–Pt-based bulk alloys

We have investigated the ordering transformation and magnetic properties of Fe_59.75Pt_39.5Nb_0.75 bulk alloys in detail by using different high-temperature homogenization treatments, different cooling rates and different low-temperature annealing treatments to obtain samples with different microstructure and different atomically ordered states. The quenching rate after the high-temperature homogenization treatment was chosen much lower than in previous investigations. In this way, we were able to obtain nanostructured bulk alloys consisting exclusively of the hard-magnetic face-centered-tetragonal phase. A high remanence ratio was obtained by profiting from the nanocomposite exchange coupling between nearest-neighbor-ordered regions. The present results are compared with results of previous investigations in which much higher cooling rates were applied. We also discussed why the present alloy systems are less suitable for the attainment of exchange spring behavior.     

Evidence of new high-pressure magnetic phases in Fe–Pt Invar alloy

To investigate the magnetic properties of disordered Fe₇₀Pt₃₀ Invar alloy under high pressure, measurements of the real part of the AC susceptibility (χ) were made under pressure up to 7.5 GPa in the temperature range 4.2–385 K using a cubic anvil high-pressure apparatus. The Curie temperature (T_C) decreased with increasing pressure, and then, two new high-pressure magnetic phases appeared. These results show that the ferromagnetism of Fe–Pt Invar alloy becomes weaker, and the antiferromagnetic interaction becomes dominant with increasing pressure.     

Crystallization kinetics of the Fe40Ni38Mo4B18 amorphous alloy

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used to study the annealing of the Fe₄₀Ni₃₈Mo₄B₁₈ amorphous alloy. The samples were isothermally annealed in the 858–878 K temperature range several times. Two crystalline phases were observed in the annealed samples: FeNi₃ and (Fe, Ni, Mo)₂₃B₆. Preliminary results indicate that assuming a linear relationship between the area under the main XRD peak associated with the FeNi₃ phase and its volume fraction, this can be fitted to a Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation with an exponent n close to 1.0. Mössbauer results show a broad magnetic hyperfine field distribution in as-received samples and, consistent with XRD results, a sextet attributed to precipitates of FeNi₃ (B_hf=29.5 T) for long annealing times.     

Magnetic properties and domain structure of polycrystalline DyFe3

Magnetization σ vs. temperature T was measured from 80 to 700 K in polycrystalline DyFe₃ in a magnetic field H = 10 kOe. From σ = f(T), the Curie temperature was determined. Also, σ was measured vs. H from 0 to 70 kOe at 4.2 K. Magnetization at saturation σ₀ at 4.2 K and the magnetic moment of DyFe₃ were also determined. First observations of domain structure in DyFe₃ are reported. The mean domain with is determined in its dependence on the grain size . The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of polycrystalline DyFe₃ is determined as K₁ = -1.2×10⁷ erg/cm³.     

Origin of enhanced coercivity in (Fe65Co35)x(Al2O3)1-x granular thin films

The magnetic behaviors of granular (Fe₆₅Co₃₅)_x(Al₂O₃)_1−x films have been examined. The results show that the coercivity at 5 K first increases sharply from 80 Oe for x = 0.1 to 700 Oe for x = 0.3 and then drops with increasing x. This behavior differs from the system of Fe-SiO₂. Considering the interfacial area, we can theoretically explain the difference between these systems. It is concluded that the peak value of coercivity becomes smaller and occurs at a lower value of x for a more rapidly increasing granular size with volume fraction.     

Magnetic properties of YCo5 (70%wt)+Y2Co17 (30%wt) nanocomposite powders at low temperatures

Nanostructured YCo₅ (70%wt)+Y₂Co₁₇ (30%wt) composite powders were prepared by mechanical milling and subsequent annealing at 1073 K for 1.5 min. The average grain size D of the YCo₅ and Y₂Co₁₇ phases, obtained from XRD data, was 14 and 12 nm, respectively. The temperature dependence of the magnetic properties was studied by DC magnetization measurements at temperatures T ranging from 3 to 300 K. Hysteresis loops (H_max=70 kOe) show that both the coercivity H_C and the squareness σ_r/σ_max are temperature-dependent. The coercivity increases from 12 kOe at room temperature to 18 kOe at T=3 K. The observed enhanced remanence (σ_r/σ_max>0.5) indicates that a strong exchange coupling is present at all temperatures used in this study. The maximum magnetization σ_max changes little with temperature and has a value of about 70% of the effective saturation magnetization of the title compound.