The Microstructure of Melt-Spun Iron Neodymium Permanent Magnet Materials
Rapidly-quenched iron rare-earth boron alloys, with appropriate heat treatment, exhibit commercially promising permanent magnetic properties. This paper will report the results of an AEM characterization undertaken to explain the origin of the magnetic properties of an iron-neodymium-boron alloy in terms of its microstructure. Ribbons of Fe76 Nd16 B8 were prepared by melt-spinning, and were subsequently annealed at 700°C for 6 minutes to promote growth of a fine-grained structure. Samples were prepared for AEM by ion-milling the ribbons on a cold stage and examined using a Philips 400T TEM/STEM equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray unit.Three different microstructures are commonly observed in these alloys, and several others have been found in isolated cases.