Magnetic properties and microstructure of nanocomposite Pr2Fe14(B,C)/α-Fe melt-spun ribbons.

The phase evolution, microstructure, and magnetic properties of melt-spun Pr11Febal.B8-xCx (x =0-8d and Pr11Febal.Co10B6C2 nanocomposites have been investigated. Summarizing the results of x-ray diffraction and thermal magnetic analysis for Pr11Febal.B8-xCx series ribbons, magnetically soft Fe3B and α-Fe phases are found to coexist with magnetically hard 2:14:1 phase for carbon-free (x=0) ribbons; three phases, namely, 2:14:1, Pr2Fe17Cy, and α-Fe, appear for x=2-6, while 2:14:1 phase is almost not formed in Pr11Febal.C8 ribbons. The optimal magnetic properties of Br =9.4 kG, iHc=9.3 kOe, and (BH)max=17.3 MGOe are obtained in Pr11Febal.B6C2. Substitution of 10 at. % Co for Fe in Pr11Febal.B6C2 ribbons refines the grain size of the existing 2:14:1, Pr2Fe17Cy, and α-(Fe,Co) phases and enhances the magnetic properties of the ribbons to Br=9.8 kG, iHc =10.4 kOe, (BH)max=19.0 MGOe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]