Magnetization Reversal Process in Pr-Cu Infiltrated Nd-Fe-B Nanocrystalline Magnet Investigated by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Magnetization reversal process in Nd-Fe-B nanocrystalline magnets was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) using a non-polarized neutron beam. The magnetic-field dependence of the SANS intensities was obtained for as-deformed and Pr-Cu infiltrated Nd-Fe-B magnets. The SANS intensity variation with the magnetic field is suppressed in Pr-Cu infiltrated sample as compared with that in as-deformed sample. The isolation of Nd
₂
Fe
₁₄
B grains along the [001]-axis direction was found to be caused by the infiltration of the Pr-Cu eutectic alloy, resulting in coercive force enhancement. The results suggest that magnetic isolation of the grains is the key to developing magnets with high coercive force.