Extraction of Sm from Sm-Fe alloys by the glass slag method

Application of the glass slag method to the extraction of samarium from Sm-Fe alloys was studied. The magnetic Sm2Fe17 phase was decomposed into the Sm oxide phase and Fe phases by the glass slag method. The Sm oxide phase was extracted by the surrounding molten glass slag material in the glass slag method. The resultant alloys consisted of neither the Sm2Fe17 phase nor the Sm oxide phase. The Sm-Fe alloys were therefore separated into Sm-containing glass slag material and an Fe-B alloy by the glass slag method. This method was found to be suitable for the extraction of Sm from Sm-Fe alloys, as was the case for the extraction of neodymium from Nd-Fe-B alloys.