Applied magnetic field increases magnetic anisotropy in HDDR-processed Nd-Fe-B alloy

CMI researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight

Innovation 
Hydrogenation-Disproportionation-Desorption-Recombination (HDDR) processed powders were produced in an applied field of 2 T and resulted in increased magnetic anisotropy.

Achievement
Accepted manuscript in Metals journal. Described reproducible HDDR process results demonstrating improved magnetic anisotropy.

Significance and Impact

  • Established a new process to produce anisotropic HDDR powders
  • Bonded Nd-Fe-B is the primary type of Nd-Fe-B magnet produced in North America; hence, production of enhanced powders can enable the U.S. magnet industry.

Hub Target Addressed 

  • Bringing a competitive advantage to domestic suppliers of bonded magnets.
  • Improving material performance resulting in the use of smaller volumes of critical rare earths via lower loading fraction in bonded magnets and supplanting sintered magnets with bonded magnets.
Hysteresis loops of 2 T-processed powder (green and blue data) and 0 T-powder (red and black) showing the increased remanence ratios of the 2 T powder.
Hysteresis loops of 2 T-processed powder (green and blue data) and 0 T-powder (red and black) showing the increased remanence ratios of the 2 T powder. 
Expanded scale for Hysteresis loops shown above. 
Expanded scale  for Hysteresis loops shown above.