Effect of nitrogen content in magnetic properties of Sm/sub 2/Fe/sub 17/N/sub x/ and SmFe/sub 5/N/sub y/ alloys

The nitrogenization of Sm
₂
Fe
₁₇
enhances the Curie temperature and magnetic anisotropy and induces uniaxial anisotropy. They are thus potential permanent magnet materials and have extracted extensive attention. However, they were found to decompose at high temperatures, hence sintering is less possible. In this study, Sm
₂
Fe
₁₇
N
_x
alloys with different nitrogen contents were explored, those with nitrogen less than a certain level was found to be stable at high temperatures. The possible stabilization effect of nitrogen on the Sm-Fe 1:5 phase, and its high temperature stability are also presented.