Studies on structural transformation and magnetic properties in Sm2Co17 type alloys

Structural transformations and microstructural characterisation of Sm2Co17 alloys containing Fe, Cu and Zr at different stages of thermal processing h ave been investigated by X-ray diffraction, optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes. Solution treated samples consist of a mi xture of hexagonal TbCu7 (1:7 H) and rhombohedral Th2Zn17 (2:17 R) structur e types of 2:17 phase. After isothermal aging, TbCu7 + Th2Zn17 structures t ransform into Th2Zn17 pe structure with precipitation of Cu-rich hexagonal SmCo5 (1:5 H) and Zr-rich platelet phases. In addition to the main phases, a soft magnetic phase of composition Zr-6(FeCo)(23) is formed in alloys con taining higher Zr composition. Isothermal aging studies reveal that magneti c properties show a peak value when aged at 1108-1123 K for 10 h. TEM studi es show cellular precipitate structure with cell interiors having 2:17 R st ructure, while the fully coherent cell boundaries have the 1:5 H structure. Zr-rich platelets which run across many cells and cell boundaries were fou nd to have 1:7 H structure. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.