Investigation on demagnetization of Nd2Fe14B permanent magnets induced by irradiation

Nd2Fe14B is an important component of insertion devices, which are used in synchrotron radiation sources, and could be demagnetized by irradiation. In the present study, the Monte Carlo code FLUKA was used to analyze the irradiation field of Nd2Fe14B, and it was confirmed that the main demagnetization particle was neutron. Nd2Fe14B permanent magnet samples were irradiated by Ar ions at different doses to simulate neutron irradiation damage. The hysteresis loops were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer, and the microstructure evolutions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the relationship between them was discussed. The results indicate that the decrease in saturated magnetization is caused by the changes in microstructure. The evolution of single crystals into an amorphous structure is the reason for the demagnetization phenomenon of Nd2Fe14B permanent magnets when considering its microscopic structure.