Magnetic properties of SmCo5 alloy fabricated by laser sintering

Purpose Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have been developed to rapidly produce custom designs from a multitude of materials. Bonded permanent magnets (PMs) have been produced via several AM techniques to allow for rapid manufacture of complex geometries. These magnets, however, tend to suffer from lower residual induction than the industry standard of injection moulding primarily due to the lower packing density of the magnetic particles and secondly due to the feedstock consisting of neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) powder with isotropic magnetic properties. As there is no compaction during most AM processes, increasing the packing density is very difficult and therefore the purpose of this study was to increase the magnetic properties of the PMs without increasing the part density. Design/methodology/approach Accordingly, this research investigates the use of anisotropic NdFeB feedstock coupled with an in-situ alignment fixture into an AM process known as selective laser sintering (SLS) to increase the magnetic properties of AM magnets. A Helmholtz coil array was added to an SLS machine and used to expose each powder layer during part fabrication to a near-uniform magnetic field of 20.4 mT prior to consolidation by the laser. Findings Permeagraph measurements of the parts showed that the alignment field introduced residual induction anisotropy of up to 46.4 ± 2.2% when measured in directions parallel and perpendicular to the alignment field. X-ray diffraction measurements also demonstrated a convergence of the orientation of the crystals when the magnets were processed in the presence of the alignment field. Originality/value A novel active alignment fixture for SLS was introduced and was experimentally shown to induce anisotropy in bonded PMs. Thus demonstrating a new method for the enhancement in energy density of PMs produced via AM methods.

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Effect of nature of the comminution medium on the magnetic properties of SmCo5 alloy powders

Soviet Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics ◽

10.1007/bf00792197 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

E. G. Povolotskii ◽

Ya. G. Bogatin ◽

N. A. Samarkina

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Properties ◽

Smco5 Alloy

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AEM analysis of crystallization in Ti-based amorphous alloys

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100075142 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 270-271

Author(s):

A.R. Pelton ◽

A.F. Marshall ◽

Y.S. Lee

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Properties ◽

Amorphous Alloys ◽

Amorphous Materials ◽

Isothermal Annealing ◽

Amorphous Matrix ◽

Nucleation And Growth ◽

Current Interest ◽

Amorphous Films ◽

Electrical And Magnetic Properties

Amorphous materials are of current interest due to their desirable mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties. Furthermore, crystallizing amorphous alloys provides an avenue for discerning sequential and competitive phases thus allowing access to otherwise inaccessible crystalline structures. Previous studies have shown the benefits of using AEM to determine crystal structures and compositions of partially crystallized alloys. The present paper will discuss the AEM characterization of crystallized Cu-Ti and Ni-Ti amorphous films.Cu60Ti40: The amorphous alloy Cu60Ti40, when continuously heated, forms a simple intermediate, macrocrystalline phase which then transforms to the ordered, equilibrium Cu3Ti2 phase. However, contrary to what one would expect from kinetic considerations, isothermal annealing below the isochronal crystallization temperature results in direct nucleation and growth of Cu3Ti2 from the amorphous matrix.

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Microstructure in soft magnetic E3 (S1, Al) (Sendust) alloys

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100105916 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 770-771

Author(s):

June D. Kim

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Magnetic Properties ◽

Ternary Phase Diagram ◽

Vertical Tube ◽

Vacuum Induction Melting ◽

Induction Melting ◽

Soft Magnetic ◽

Quenching Temperature ◽

Thin Foils ◽

Vertical Tube Furnace

Iron-base alloys containing 8-11 wt.% Si, 4-8 wt.% Al, known as “Sendust” alloys, show excellent soft magnetic properties. These magnetic properties are strongly dependent on heat treatment conditions, especially on the quenching temperature following annealing. But little has been known about the microstructure and the Fe-Si-Al ternary phase diagram has not been established. In the present investigation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to study the microstructure in a Sendust alloy as a function of temperature.An Fe-9.34 wt.% Si-5.34 wt.% Al (approximately Fe3Si0.6Al0.4) alloy was prepared by vacuum induction melting, and homogenized at 1,200°C for 5 hrs. Specimens were heat-treated in a vertical tube furnace in air, and the temperature was controlled to an accuracy of ±2°C. Thin foils for TEM observation were prepared by jet polishing using a mixture of perchloric acid 15% and acetic acid 85% at 10V and ∼13°C. Electron microscopy was performed using a Philips EM 301 microscope.

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