Enhancing mechanical properties of 2:17 Sm-Co magnets through Sm2O3 and O2 incorporation

The application range of 2:17 Sm-Co magnets is limited by poor mechanical properties. This study investigates the effects of adding Sm2O3 during ball milling and introducing O2 during jet milling on the mechanical and magnetic properties of 2:17 Sm-Co magnets. With increasing oxygen content, the flexural strength in both Sm2O3-added and O2-added magnets was enhanced. Flexural strength in Sm2O3-added magnets increased by 18.5 % with oxygen content (x) rising from 0.07 wt.% to 0.46 wt.%, while in O2-added magnets, a 43.0 % increase was observed with oxygen content (x) from 0.08 wt.% to 0.41 wt.%. The uniform dispersion of Sm2O3 and its grain refinement effect contribute to superior mechanical properties in O2-added magnets. It can be foreseen that compensation with a certain Sm content can achieve a combination of magnetic and mechanical properties. This study provides insights for developing magnets with exceptional overall performance. [Display omitted]