TAILORING OF THE MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF SMCO5-NB0.33CR0.67 NANOCOMPOSITES USING MECHANICAL ALLOYING

Nanocomposite structures composed of ferromagnetic particles dispersed in a matrix are systems in which the magnetic properties can be tailo red by varying the size and spacing of the ferromagnetic particles. Na nocomposites of SmCo5 in a non-magnetic Nb0.33Cr0.67 matrix exhibit a wide variety of magnetic properties. SmCo5 powder is premilled pries t o mechanical alloying. The premilling results in a maximum coercivity of 16 kOe after 2 hours of milling, and an enhanced remanence ratio. B oth features may be due to exchange anisotropy and/or exchange couplin g between hard and soft ferromagnetic phases. The nanocomposite sample s show that, when the SmCo5 particulates are small enough, the primary effect of alloying is to disperse them throughout the matrix with no further refinement of size.