Achieving ultrastrong anisotropy in bulk Pr₂Fe₁₄B/α-Fe nanocomposite magnets by high-pressure thermal compression

Abstract

Aligning the hard phase has always been a great challenge in fabricating bulk nanocomposite magnets due to the high soft-phase fractions. In this work, anisotropic bulk Pr₂Fe₁₄B/α-Fe nanocomposite magnets have been fabricated from amorphous precursors by high-pressure thermal compression deformation. The synthesised magnet exhibits an ultrastrong magnetic anisotropy with a high soft-phase fraction of ∼29 wt.% and a dual-morphology grain structure that consists of equiaxed and lath-shaped grains. The anisotropy is originated from the strong (00l) crystallographic texture for Pr₂Fe₁₄B nanocrystals on account of its preferential nucleation and growth during the deformation with high stress and large strain. This study is favourable for the development of bulk nanocomposite magnets with superior energy products on the premise of high soft-phase fractions.

KEYWORDS:

• Pr₂Fe₁₄B/α-Fe
• Magnetic anisotropy
• bulk nanocomposites
• crystallographic texture
• preferential nucleation
• growth
• soft-phase fractions
• deformation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 51931007, 51931196, 52072179 and 52101234).