Effects of surface modification of Nd-Fe-B powders using parylene C by CVDP method on the properties of anisotropic bonded Nd–Fe–B magnets

• Parylene Nd–Fe–B magnets prepared at room temperature show higher (BH)max and DOA.
• Actual density of parylene Nd–Fe–B magnet is improved greatly.
• Problems such as powders’ sticking wall, mould damage and so on are solved.
• Parylene NdFeB magnets have better corrosion resistance.
• Low friction cofficient of parylene C leads excellent properties of NdFeB magnets.

This paper presents effects of surface modification of Nd–Fe–B powders using parylene C by means of chemical vapor deposition polymerization (CVDP) on the properties of anisotropic bonded Nd–Fe–B magnets. It can be well verified from SEM images and EDS analysis that the surface of Nd–Fe–B powder is coated with thin parylene C films. The maximum energy product ((BH)max), degree of alignment (DOA), actual density and corrosion resistance of parylene Nd–Fe–B magnets prepared at room temperature are much higher than that of non-parylene Nd–Fe–B magnets. (BH)max, DOA and actual density of parylene Nd–Fe–B magnets (70 kJ/m3, 0.342, 5.82 g/cm3) prepared at room temperature under 578 MPa are improved by 18.6%, 4.6%, 2.1% and 27.3%, 29.1%, 7.8% compared with non-parylene Nd‐Fe‐B magnets prepared at 140 °C (59 kJ/m3, 0327, 5.70 g/cm3) and room temperature (55 kJ/m3, 0.265, 5.40 g/cm3), respectively. Additional, the improvement of actual density and the room temperature process also solve problems such as powders’ sticking wall, non-uniform powder filling, non-uniform magnetic properties, seriously mould damage, short life cycle of mould and so on, which exists during warm compaction process. Parylene Nd–Fe–B magnets have better corrosion resistance and worse mechanical properties than that of non-parylene Nd–Fe–B magnets. The reason for the improvement of magnetic properties and actual density is the low friction cofficient of parylene C films, which results in lower frictional resistance and better lubricating property of parylene Nd–Fe–B powders.