Electrochemical corrosion kinetics of spark plasma sintered Nd–Fe–B permanent magnets in NaCl electrolyte

Abstract

Static state immersion experiments, polarisation curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests have been applied to investigate the corrosion kinetics for both spark plasma sintered (SPS) and conventional sintered Nd–Fe–B magnets in NaCl electrolyte. Effect of microstructure modification on their chemical stability of the magnets was discussed. The electrochemical reactions of both magnets are controlled by the step of active substances adsorption process at the open circuit potential and the anodic potential, which turn to diffusion process at the cathodal potential. Although both magnets are susceptible to corrosion in saline electrolytes, SPS magnets are more corrosion resistant than conventional sintered magnets due to their special microstructure that is different from those of conventional sintered magnets. In SPS magnets, the grain size of the Nd₂Fe₁₄B main phase is fine and uniform, only a few Nd rich phase form along the grain boundaries of Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase, while most of them agglomerate into triple junctions as small particles. Such microstructure effectively restrains the aggressive intergranular corrosion along Nd rich phases. As a result, the SPS magnet possesses excellent corrosion resistance in NaCl electrolyte.

Keywords:

• Corrosion kinetics
• Nd–Fe–B permanent magnets
• Spark plasma sintering
• Microstructure modification

This work was supported by Research Fund for the Doctoral Programme of Higher Education of China (grant no. 20091103120024).