Temperature-sensitive Nd-Co compounds produced by powder metallurgy

A powder metallurgical process has been developed to prepare Nd-Co compounds which show the spin reorientation (SR) phenomenon. In this process, single crystals of the compounds in fine powder form are aligned in a magnetic field at a temperature more than 50 °C above the SR temperature. Complete uniformity is especially important in the chemical composition of the powders. As a result of studying many elements as substituents in NdCo5, an Nd (Co1−x−yAlxFey)5 system has been developed. The SR temperature of this compound system can be extended beyond 150 °C by controlling composition of the compound as may be required for different applications.