A high performance magnetic alloy with an operating temperature of 500/spl deg/C

A potential high temperature 2:17 magnet with higher Cu content is developed using a simpler aging process. The homogenized Sm(Co/sub bal/Fe/sub 0.1/Cu/sub y/Zr/sub 0.04/)8.5 magnetic alloy with y=0.168 consists of a mixture of randomly distributed 1:5 precipitates in a disordered 2:17 matrix, which upon aging (3 h at 850/spl deg/C) transforms to a perfect cellular/lamellar microstructure with right microchemistry associated by a high coercivity of 20 KOe. The short isothermal aging cycle omits the slow cooling stage necessary in traditional magnets. This is helpful in obtaining a better temperature dependence of coercivity. The coercivity of the magnet at 500/spl deg/C and its temperature coefficient are 6.3 kOe and 0.152 %//spl deg/C, respectively. The results of this study are very important both scientifically and technologically and very promising for the future fabrication of high performance and more economical sintered magnets with an operating temperature of 500/spl deg/C.