• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.447-452
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• 2016

Neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) sintered magnets have excellent magnetic properties such as the remanence, coercive force, and the maximum energy product compared to other hard magnetic materials. The coercive force of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets is improved by the addition of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium instead of neodymium. Then, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets increases. However, additional elements have increased the production cost of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets. Hence, a study on the control of the microstructure of Nd-Fe-B magnets is being conducted. As the coercive force of magnets improves, the grain size of the $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ grain is close to 300 nm because they are nucleation-type magnets. In this study, fine particles of Nd-Fe-B are prepared with various grinding energies in the pulverization process used for preparing sintered magnets, and the microstructure and magnetic properties of the magnets are investigated.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2011

The coercivity $H_c$ of $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ magnets and $Nd_2Fe_{14}B/(Nd_{0.7}Dy_{0.3})_2Fe_{14}B$ composite magnets were calculated by computer simulation based on the micromagnetic theory under assumptions that $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ and $(Nd_{0.7}Dy_{0.3})_2Fe_{14}B$ grains have magnetically deteriorated layers on their surfaces and diffusion of Dy from $(Nd_{0.7}Dy_{0.3})_2Fe_{14}B$ grains to $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ ones through the contacting boundaries recovers the magnetic anisotropy of the deteriorated layers of $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ grains. $H_c$ of $Nd_2Fe_{14}B/(Nd_{0.7}Dy_{0.3})_2Fe_{14}B$ composite magnets increased by the diffusion of Dy from $(Nd_{0.7}Dy_{0.3})_2Fe_{14}B$ grains to $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ ones and the resultant recovery of the anisotropy field of deteriorated layers of $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ grains. The $H_c$ vs fraction of $(Nd_{0.7}Dy_{0.3})_2Fe_{14}B$ grains curve were convex for the magnets with the degree of alignment between 0.94 and 0.99, which suggests that the above composite magnets have larger $H_c$ values than the alloy-magnets with the same Dy content, and that we can save the consumption of Dy by using these composite magnets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2013.12a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2013

In the talk, the present research and production status of NdFeB magnets in China is outlined. The main research on NdFeB magnets at Zhejiang University is presented. The microstructural restructuring of grain boundaries of sintered NdFeB is focused. Through microstructural restructuring, the corrosion resistance of sintered NdFeB can be effectively improved, and NdFeB magnets with high coercivity and low heavy RE contents can be fabricated.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2015

We present a method, supported by theoretical analysis, for optimizing the usage of the critical rare earth element dysprosium in $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ (NdFeB)-based permanent magnets. In this method, we use Dy selectively in locations such as magnet edges and faces, where demagnetization factors are largest, rather than uniformly throughout the bulk sample. A200 nm thick Dy film was sputtered onto a commercial N-38, NdFeB magnets with a thickness of 3 mm and post-annealed at temperatures from $600-700^{\circ}C$. Magnets displayed enhanced coercivities after post-annealing and as much as a 5 % increase in the energy product, while requiring a total Dy content of 0.06 wt. % - a small fraction of that used in the commercial grade Dy-NdFeB magnets. By assuming all Dy diffused into NdFeB magnets, the improvement in energy product corresponds to a saving of over 1% Dy (critical element). Magnets manufactured using this technique will therefore be higher performing which would potentially broaden the application space of these magnets in the traction motors of hybrid and pure electric vehicles, and wind generators.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.471-476
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• 2008

Sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets have been widely used due to their excellent magnetic properties, especially for driving motors of hybrid and electric vehicles. The microstructure of Nd-Fe-B magnets strongly affects their magnetic properties, in particular the coercivity. Therefore, a post-sintering process like heat-treatment is required for improving the magnetic properties of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets. In this study, cyclic heat treatment was performed at temperatures between $350^{\circ}C$ and $450^{\circ}C$ up to 16 cycles in order to control microstructures such as size and shape of the Nd-rich phase without grain growth of the $Nd_{2}Fe_{14}B$ phase. The 2 cycles specimen at this temperature range showed more homogeneous microstructure which leads to higher coercivity of 35 kOe than as-sintered one.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.359-364
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• 2010

In an attempt to optimize the magnetic properties of (Nd, Dy)-Fe-B sintered magnets, hydrogenation and post-sintering heat treatment processes were investigated at various hydrogenation temperatures and heat treatment temperatures. The coercivity of (Nd, Dy)-Fe-B sintered magnets hydrogenated at $400^{\circ}C$ increased to about 1.2 kOe without any detrimental effect on the remanence. Moreover, the coercivity of the magnets was enhanced further by a consecutive $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ step heat treatment. These results eventually leaded to the reduction of the Dy content in a high coercive (> 30 kOe) (Nd, Dy)-Fe-B sintered magnets, as much as 10%.

• Metals and materials international
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1422-1431
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• 2018

We investigated the additional (secondary) cooling effect of casted strips on the magnetic properties of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets. The Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets were fabricated with the casted strips prepared without and with additional cooling. Additional cooling was achieved by blowing Ar gas at various pressures (0.1, 0.3, and 0.6 MPa) on the free-side surface of the strips during the strip-casting process. The higher magnetic properties of $H_c$, $B_r$, and $(BH)_{max}$ of the final Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets were obtained for 0.1 MPa rather than for 0.0 MPa. The best microstructure of the columnar grains in the casted strips was produced with the aid of a lower pressure of gas on the free-side surface. It was found that the microstructure of the strips affects the distribution of grains grown in the sintered magnets. This report demonstrates that the improved magnetic performance of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets was achieved via additional gas cooling.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2011

Sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets are widely used in many fields such as motors, generators, actuators, microwaves and so on due to their excellent magnetic properties. Many researchers have shown that the Nd-rich phase was essentially important for high magnet properties. In this study, we focused on controlling of the Nd-rich phase to enhance magnetic properties by the cyclic sintering process. Nd-Fe-B based sintered magnets were prepared by isothermal sintering and cyclic sintering processes. Magnetic properties and microstructure of the magnets were investigated. The coercivity was enhanced from 21.2 kOe to 23.27 kOe after 10 cycles of the sintering. The Nd-rich phase was effectively penetrated into the grain boundary between the $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ grains by the cyclic sintering.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2012

Magnetic properties and the microstructures of magnets prepared by spark plasma sintering were investigated in order to enhance magnetic properties by grain size control. Nd-Fe-B magnets were fabricated by the spark plasma sintering under 30 MPa at various temperatures. The grain size was effectively controlled by the spark plasma sintering and it was possible to make Nd-Fe-B magnets with grain size of 5.9 ${\mu}m$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2013.12a
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• pp.90-90
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• 2013

Since discovery, NdFeB permanent magnet has replaced application of the conventional magnets rapidly because of its superior physical and mechanical properties. With increasing consumption of power combined with energy resource depletion, energy efficiency is becoming more and more inportant. According to recent reports, almost almost half of the electric power is consumed by motor, and NdFeB magnets which are the core component of the motor play a key role on improving energy efficiency of the devices. In parallel with finding alternatives energy resources, research works improving energy efficiecy have been conducted world wide. Althogh NdFeB magnets usage have been expanded to various applications, key materials such as Nd and Dy, resouces lean heavily on specific area, China. Magnetic industry revently experienced skyrocketing price fluctuatioin of rare earth at around 2008. Chineses government's regulations worsened the situation and arose a necessity to develop methods to minimize rare earth use. In this presentation, POSCO's recent research works on rare earth reduction is presented including novel powder alloying method using nitrate precursors. Also, future R&D plans for rare earth free magnets is briefly introduced as well.