NITROGEN-INDUCED DEGRADATION OF ND2FE14B

Although calculations of interstitial site dimensions suggest that R2F e14B compounds (R = rare earth) should not be able to absorb N atoms t o form R2Fe14B-N-x nitrides, several literature reports of nitrogenati on and improved magnetic properties have appeared. We found that Nd2Fe 14B does absorb a considerable amount of nitrogen, up to N/M = 0.26, d ecomposing the Nd2Fe14B to nanocrystalline Fe and unidentified nitride and other species. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .