Investigation on microstructure and magnetic properties of Sm2Co17 magnets aged at high temperature

The Sm2Co17 magnet is the most promising candidate for high temperature applications. The microstructure evolutions and losses in the magnetic properties of the magnet in high temperature aging status have been investigated. The Sm(CobalFe0.22Cu0.068Zr0.025)(7.75) magnets were prepared using the conventional powder sintering method. The magnet samples were isothermally aged at 500 degrees C, 600 degrees C, and 700 degrees C for 72 h, respectively. The magnetic properties and the demagnetization curve were kept invariable for the magnet samples aged at 500 degrees C. The coercivity H-cj of the magnet samples decreased with increasing aging temperature. The H-cj decreased from 29.2 kOe for the original status samples to 10.8 kOe for the samples aged at 700 degrees C. The cell structure in the magnet is not destroyed after aging at 700 degrees C for 72 h. The deterioration of the magnetic properties and the demagnetization-curve squareness was caused by an increasing lattice mismatch between the 2:17R cell phase and the cell-boundary 1:5H phase, and by an increasing cell diameter for the magnet sample aged at a high temperature. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3563084]