Significant improvements of structure and magnetic properties of Pr2Fe14B/α-Fe nanocomposite magnets due to Cu and Mn substitution

The influence of Cu and Mn substitution on the structure and magnetic properties of melt-spun Pr8Fe87−xB5Mx ribbons with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.2 was studied. The experimental results show that the Cu substitution of appropriate quantity leads to the c-axis alignment of Pr2Fe14B phase in melt-spun ribbons. The substitution of Mn improves magnetic properties of melt-spun Pr8Fe87−xB5Mnx ribbons, but does not show the same influences on the alignment of Pr2Fe14B phase as Cu substitution does. A remanence of 1.33 T, a coercive field of 462 kA/m and a maximum energy product of 185 kJ/m3 in Pr8Fe86.4B5Mn0.6 ribbons are obtained at room temperature.