Crystal structure and magnetic performance of single-phase nanocrystalline SmCo7 alloy

Single-phase nanocrystalline SmCo7 bulk alloy with an ultrafine grain structure was prepared using a novel fabrication route that combines induction melting, ball milling and spark plasma sintering. The nanocrystalline SmCo7 was formed in the hexagonal TbCu7-type crystal structure. It was discovered that the single-phase nanocrystalline SmCo7 alloy has excellent magnetic properties. The influences of the lattice characteristics and the nanograin structure on the magnetic performance of this alloy were analyzed.