Recent developments in RFe12-type compounds for permanent magnets

This article discusses the recently intensified studies on the ThMn₁₂-type hard magnetic compounds. Among the important developments were the synthesis of compounds superior to the Nd₂Fe₁₄B in saturation magnetization, the increased interest on Ce-substituted and rare-earth-free compounds and also the emergence of mechanochemistry as a method for manufacturing anisotropic powders with high coercivity. The theoretical studies might have had a greater impact if more attention was paid to the structural stability of these compounds. Little information is available on the fabrication of dense three-dimensional magnets; these efforts must be intensified for a successful implementation of the most advanced RFe₁₂-type materials.