Structural and magnetic studies on spark plasma sintered SmCo5/Fe bulk nanocomposite magnets

Abstract: SmCo5+x wt% Fe (, 5 and 10) nanocomposite powders were synthesized by mechanical milling and were consolidated into bulk shape by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The evolution of structure and magnetic properties were systematically investigated in milled powders as well as in SPS samples. A maximum coercivity of 8.9kOe was achieved in spark plasma sintered SmCo5+5wt% Fe sample. The exchange spring interaction between the hard and soft magnetic phases was evaluated using δM–H measurements and the analysis revealed that the SPS sample containing 5wt% Fe had a stronger exchange coupling between the magnetic phases than that of the sample with10wt% Fe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]