CONSOLIDATION, MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF GAS-ATOMIZED ANDHDDR ND2FE14B POWDERS

Nd2Fe14B powders produced by gas atomization (GA) were consolidated an d the fracture toughness and magnetic properties were measured and com pared to material produced by hydrogenation, disproportionation, desor ption, and recombination (HDDR) and to Magnequench MQII magnets, Hot p ressing of the gas atomized powder without TiC additions required temp eratures and times similar to that required by Magnequench melt spun p owder, Titanium plus carbon additions, which result in enhanced quench ability during production of the GA powder, required higher temperatur es than alloys without TIC for successful hot pressing and full densif ication. However, grain sizes remained under 50 nm in the consolidated magnet, Toughnesses for both HDDR and GA material with the larger pow der sizes were slightly higher than those of comparable MQII specimens , The TiC modified GA material may result in tougher magnets that are easier to process at higher temperatures by techniques such as extrusi on.