Microstructural and magnetic properties of a Fe-Co-Ni-Al-Ti-Cu alloy

The present work describes the development of Fe-Co-Ni-Al-Ti-Cu permanent magnets. Magnetic and microstructural studies were carried out using microscopy, magnetometery and X-ray diffraction techniques. The results indicate that both microstructural and magnetic properties are sensitive to the heat treatment conditions. Magnetic properties in the studied alloys could be improved by controlling the annealed state microstructure and by efficiently aligning and elongating the nano-structured ferromagnetic alpha/sub 1/ particles in <001> crystallographic directions. The best magnetic properties in the alloy Fe-34.7Co-15.3Ni-8.3Al-5.4Ti-3.9Cu is obtained as coercive force (Hc) of 1528Oe, residual magnetic induction (Br) of 7105G, saturation magnetization (Bs) of 19060G and maximum energy product ((BH)/sub max/) of 3.3 MGOe. (author)