Mossbauer spectroscopy of the melt-spun Nd(FeB)n alloys

Fe-rich Nd-Fe-B ternary compounds are of great technological interest because of their superior magnetic properties such as high coercivity and large energy product [Rev. Mod. Phys. 63 (1991) 819]. Generally these materials are prepared by the melt-spinning technique which has proved to be highly successful in the production of engineering materials in the form of ribbons, wires and strips. With this technique not only a diverse range of alloying can be achieved but also both crystalline and amorphous phases can be produced. Here, Mossbauer spectroscopic measurements have been made to study the composition effect in the mwelt-spun Nd(FeB)(n), (2 less than or equal ton less than or equal to8) alloys. The alloys n less than or equal to4 are found to be crystalline and paramagnetic while 4 <n <5 are crystalline but comprise paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. The alloys for 5 less than or equal ton less than or equal to6 are completely amorphous but partially ferromagnetic, while for n=8 the alloy comprises partially crystalline but completely ferromagnetic phases. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BY All rights reserved.