Cluster-assembled exchange-spring nanocomposite permanent magnets

Isotropic nanocomposite magnetic structures were produced via cluster assembly routes with energy products reaching 18 MG Oe. Gas aggregation produces Fe clusters with an average size less than 10 nm with a very narrow size distribution, and these were embedded in a hard magnetic matrix by cosputtering of FePt. Structures produced were crystallographically isotropic with Fe cluster phase content ranging from 0 to 30 vol %. The coercivity decreased from 13 kOe as Fe cluster content increased. Single-phase-type hysteresis loops indicating excellent exchange coupling at low Fe cluster content give way to a stepped demagnetization loop at an Fe cluster content greater than 20%. The energy product initially increased with Fe cluster content, then decreased. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.