Do micromagnetic simulations correctly predict hard magnetic hysteresis properties?

Micromagnetic calculations using the finite element technique describe semi-quantitatively the coercivity of novel rare earth permanent magnets in dependence on grain size, grain shape, grain alignment and composition of grain boundaries and grain boundary junctions and allow the quantitative prediction of magnetic hysteretic properties of rare earth free magnets based on densely packed elongated Fe and Co nanoparticles, which depend on crystal anisotropy, aspect ratio and packing density. The nucleation of reversed domains preferentially takes place at grain boundary junctions in granular sintered and melt-spun magnets independently on the grain size. The microstructure and the nanocompostion of the intergranular regions are inhomogeneous and too complex in order to make an exact model for micromagnetic simulations and to allow a quantitative prediction. The incoherent magnetization reversal processes near the end surfaces reduce and determine the coercive field values of Co- and Fe-based nanoparticles.