To balance the utilization of rare-earth resources and reduce the preparation cost, the La and Ce substituted Nd2Fe14C hard magnetic alloys were prepared by a facile mechanochemical method for the first time. A two-step process is typically employed: 1) Decomposition of hydrocarbon and disproportionation of (Nd1-xREx)2.5Fe14B0.08 (RE=La or Ce, x=0-0.3) alloys during high-energy ball milling, Nd+Nd2Fe17+n-hexane→NdH2+δ+α-Fe+Fe7C3; 2) (Nd, RE)2Fe14C hard magnetic powders were obtained via the vacuum annealing at 800 °C for 2min. The phase relation, magnetic properties and microstructural evolution of (Nd, RE)2Fe14B0.08C0.92 (named Nd-RE-Fe-C-based) alloys were systematically investigated. Substitution of La for x=0.1 Nd in the Nd-RE-Fe-C-based alloy increase the coercivity from 15.6kOe to 18.6kOe without reducing the remanence. First-principles calculation was performed to study the mechanism of magnetic properties La and Ce substituted samples. The results showed that La tends to be expelled from 2:14:1 phase to form more minor phases which act as the domain wall pinning center, increasing the coercivity. However, Ce prefers to enter the 2:14:1 phase, diminishing the permanent magnetic properties due to the poor intrinsic magnetic properties. This paper provides a novel viewpoint for the effective utilization of high abundant rare earth and the investigation of low cost Nd2Fe14C permanent magnet materials.
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