Magnetic enhancement of PrFeB ribbons by the effect of laminated magnetically soft thin films

Magnetically soft Co, Fe, and Fe65Co35 (wt.%) materials have been adopted to sputter onto both sides of permanent magnet ribbons with nominal composition of Pr9.5Fe80.5B10 and Pr10Fe84.12B5.88 (at.%), attempting to compare the degree of magnetic properties enhancement induced by those sputtered soft magnetic films. Experimental results verified that the magnetic enhancement due to different soft magnetic films onto both types of PrFeB ribbons followed the same sequence of Fe65Co35 > Fe > Co. When ∼185 nm Fe65Co35 were sputtered onto Pr9.5Fe80.5B10 or Pr10Fe84.12B5.88 ribbons, the magnetic energy product, (BH)max, of the laminated materials enhanced by 21.5-22.6% in comparison with that of the original ribbons.