Effect of thermomechanical deformation on the magnetic anisotropy of bulk α-Fe/Nd2Fe14B nanocomposite magnets

The effect of thermomechanical deformation conditions on the magnetic anisotropy of bulk alpha-Fe/Nd2Fe14B nanocomposite magnets produced from Nd-lean amorphous Nd9Fe85B6 has been studied. A uniaxial stress of sigma = 280-330 MPa at 973 K yields an obvious magnetic anisotropy in the alpha-Fe/Nd2Fe14B nanocomposite magnets, and the anisotropy becomes weak with increasing stress above 330 MPa. A high strain rate at a stress sigma = 330 MPa favors the (00l) texture of the Nd2Fe14B nanocrystals, yielding a strong magnetic anisotropy. The present study is of importance for the development of the bulk anisotropic nanocomposite magnets with a high volume fraction of soft phase. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.