Characterization and magnetic behavior of Fe and Nd-Fe-B nanoparticles by surfactant-capped high-energy ball mill

Nanoparticles of Fe and Nd-Fe-B alloy with sizes less than 20 nm have been successfully fabricated by a high-energy ball-milling process in the presence of surfactant and organic carrier liquid. Structural and magnetic property characterization reveals that these nanoparticles consisting of nanosized grains can be used for fabricating anisotropic nanocomposite magnets. It was confirmed that the Fe and Nd-Fe-B alloy nanoparticles were phase-transformed from an amorphous to crystalline state by a heat treatment. This phase transformation led to a hard-phase magnetic property.