The Effect of Nd Content Variation on Crystal Structure and Microstructure to Improve Magnetic Properties Performance

Abstract

Nd2Fe14B magnet powder has been fabricated by mixing Fe, B, and Nd powder based on their stoichiometric proportion at 650°C for 2 hours. Heat treatment series were applied at 720°C for one hour and continued with annealing at 100°C for 4 hours on different Nd stoichiometric variations; 26.6 %wt, 32.6 %wt, and 40.6 %wt. The results obtained from the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) phase analysis of Nd-rich Nd-Fe-B alloy suggested that the alloy has monophasic composition with hard magnetic Nd2Fe14B phase as a composition. The mean of the crystal grain size was determined using XRD analysis, while the microstructure and composition of the alloys were analyzed using the Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The magnetic properties characterization were determined using the Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), which indicates that the sample with 40.6 %wt Nd was able to achieve the highest remanence of 446.50 G and BHmax of 17.83 kGOe. Despite the high remanence result, the coercivity and BHmax value of the third sample was still lower than the commercial’s but has adequate potential value.