Effect of Mn on the magnetic properties of Fe3B/Nd2Fe14B nanocomposites

The magnetic properties of Nd4.5Fe77−xMnxB18.5 (x=0, 1 and 2) nanocomposites prepared by the crystallization of amorphous precursors were investigated. Addition of Mn is found to decrease the crystallization temperature of the amorphous ribbons. The intrinsic coercivity iHc and maximum energy product (BH)max increase from 2.6 kOe and 9.1 MGOe for x=0 to 3.1 kOe and 10.3 MGOe for x=1, respectively, and the remanence ratio Mr/Ms increases from 0.70 to 0.72. The effect of Mn on Curie temperature TC and the thermal stability of Mr and iHc were also studied. 57Fe Mössbauer spectra have been recorded for x=0, 1 and 2 ribbons at room temperature and site preference of the Mn atoms in Fe3B and Nd2Fe14B phases is discussed using the Mössbauer spectroscopy.