Structural and magnetic properties of some intermediate phases of the RE-Co-Fe-Cu-Zr system

Structural and magnetic property studies of two intermediate phases N and U of the RE-Co-Fe-Cu-Zr system, where RE stands for the total rare earth content of Misch metal (MM), have been made. The N and U phase diffraction patterns as well as their lattice parameters show some similarities with those of the 1:5 and 2:17 phases of the RE-Co-Fe system. The α parameter of the N and U phases are about the same as those of the 1:5 and 2:17 phases respectively whereas the c parameters of the N and U phases are about five times that of the 1:5 phases and two times that of the 2:17 phase respectively. Curie temperatures for the N and U phases are ∼730 degC (1003 K) and ∼830 degC (1103 K) respectively. The N phase has uniaxial anisotropy with anisotropy field ∼25 kOe and is magnetically hardenable. A resin bonded magnet of an N phase alloy shows saturation magnetization σs = 85 emu/g, σr/σs = 0.8 where σr is remanence, and intrinsic coercivity iHc = 1100 Oe. (author). 10 refs., 11 figs., 4 tabs