Effects of element doping on microstructure and magnetic performance of nanocrystalline Sm5Co19 alloy

The nanocrystalline Sm5Co19 based alloys were firstly prepared, with Fe, Ni and Nb as doping elements. The microstructure, crystal structure and magnetic properties at room temperature and high temperatures were studied for the nanocrystalline alloys, and the effects of doping elements on the microstructure and magnetic performance were analyzed. It was found that Ni, Fe and Nb doping facilitated transformation from rhombohedral to hexagonal structure of the nanocrystalline Sm5Co19 based alloys. The nanoparticles with the hexagonal structure enhance the coercivity of the nanocrystalline alloys. At high temperatures, as compared with the binary Sm5Co19 alloys, the dispersed nanoparticles containing Fe and Ni increase both the coercivity and saturated magnization, from which good high-temperature magnetic performance of the nanocrystalline Sm5Co19 based alloys were obtained. The results may facilitate development of new type Sm-Co alloys with high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and good high-temperature magnetic performance.