On the control of microstructure in rapidly solidified Nd–Fe–B alloys through melt treatment

Abstract Rapidly solidified (RS) Nd 2 Fe 14 B alloys were prepared by melt-spinning under different melt treatment conditions i.e., the melt temperature was varied prior to ejection onto the quenching wheel. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis and magnetic measurement were conducted on the as-quenched alloys to investigate their structural and magnetic characteristics. RS Nd 2 Fe 14 B alloys may display a variety of microstructures depending upon the thermal history of the melt before ejection: it was possible to synthesize an entirely amorphous structure, a partially amorphous structure containing nuclei and/or nanophases and a nanocrystalline structure. The relationship between the formation of crystalline nuclei or nanophases and the thermal history of the melt was studied. A lower melt ejection temperature produced a nanocrystalline microstructure, while higher melt ejection temperatures ( T >1723 K) largely eliminated the presence of nuclei and associated nanophases and produced an amorphous product. The experimental results indicated that optimization of the melt treatment conditions will produce rapidly solidified Nd–Fe–B alloys with a more uniform microstructure.