Tdk Corporation

Katashi Takebuchi

Koichi Yajima

Shinya Fujito

Shinya Hashimoto

A permanent magnet which contains R, T and B as main ingredients wherein R is Y or a rare earth element and T is Fe or Fe and Co and has a primary phase of R.sub.2 T.sub.14 B is produced by compacting a mixture of 60 to 95 wt % of a primary phase-forming master alloy and a grain boundary phase-forming master alloy both in powder form and sintering the compact. The primary phase-forming master alloy has columnar crystal grains of R.sub.2 T.sub.14 B with a mean grain size of 3-50 .mu.m and grain boundaries of an R rich phase and contains 26-32 wt % of R. The grain boundary phase-forming master alloy is a crystalline alloy consisting essentially of 32-60 wt % of R and the balance of Co or Co and Fe. In anther form, a permanent magnet which contains R, T and B as main ingredients wherein R is yttrium or a rare earth element, T is Fe or Fe+Co/Ni and has a primary phase of R.sub.2 T.sub.14 B is produced by compacting a mixture of a primary phase-forming master alloy and a grain boundary-forming master alloy both in powder form and sintering the compact. The primary phase-forming master alloy has a primary phase of R.sub.2 T.sub.14 B and grain boundaries of an R rich phase. The grain boundary-forming master alloy contains 40-65 wt % of R, 30-60 wt % of Fe, Co or Ni and 1-12 wt % of Sn, In or Ga.

Preparation of permanent magnet

A master alloy for magnet production, which contains as main ingredients R representing at least one element selected from rare-earth elements including Y, T representing Fe or Fe and Co, and B, and includes columnar crystal grains substantially made up of R.sub.2 T.sub.14 B, and crystal grain boundaries composed primarily of R-enriched phases having an R content higher than that of R.sub.2 T.sub.14 B, said columnar crystal grains having a mean diameter lying in the range of 3 to 50 .mu.m. The master alloy is formed into a sintered magnet through pulverization, compacting and sintering steps. The dispersion of the R-enriched phases in the master alloy is so well-enough that the R-enriched phases can also be well dispersed in the resulting sintered magnet. In addition, the master alloy is so easily pulverized that the incorporation of oxygen at the time of pulverization can be reduced. To add to this, pulverized powders having a sharp grain size distribution can be obtained, so that the sintered magnet can have crystal grains with even diameters. Thus, the sintered magnet achieved can have high magnetic characteristics.

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Ibaragi, Japan

Katashi Takebuchi