Effect of Hot-compaction Temperature on the Magnetic Properties of Anisotropic Nanocrystalline Magnets

The effect of the hot-compaction temperature on the microstructure and magnetic properties of anisotropic nanocrystalline magnets was investigated. The hot-compaction temperature was found to impact both the magnetic properties and the microstructure of die-upset magnets. The remanence of the isotropic precursor increases slightly with the improved hot-compaction temperature, and the grains start to grow on the flake boundary at higher hot-compaction temperatures. After hot deformation, it was found that the change in the magnetic properties was the inverse of that observed with the hot-compaction temperature. Microstructural investigation showed that die-upset magnets inherit the microstructural characteristics of their precursor. For the die-upset magnets, hot pressed at low temperature, scarcely any abnormal grain growth on the flake boundary can be seen. For those hot pressed at higher temperatures, however, layers with large equiaxed grains could be observed, which accounted for the poor alignment during the hot deformation, and thus the poor magnetic properties.