Preparation of Nanoscale Sm2Co17 Flakes by Ball Milling in Magnetic Field

A new preparation method of Sm2Co17 nanoflakes was investigated. Hard magnetic Sm2Co17 nanoflakes with thickness of 20–100 nm were obtained by milling in heptane and oleic acid under a magnetic field of 1. 5 T for 0.5–20 h. It was shown that higher anisotropic magnetic properties would be induced by the flake-shape anisotropy when the prepared Sm2Co17 particles are milled with a magnetic field. The magnetic anisotropy of flakes after being aligned under the magnetic field of 1. 5 T could be further enhanced, and the value of (BH)m was 128 kJ · m−3. Both anisotropy and properties are better than those of the nano-particles milled without a magnetic field.