Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Mn55Bi45 Powders Obtained by Different Ball Milling Processes

Low-temperature phase (LTP) MnBi is considered as a promising rare-earth-free permanent magnetic material with high coercivity and unique positive temperature coefficient of coercivity. Mn55Bi45 ribbons with high purity of LTP MnBi phase were prepared by melt spinning. Then, Mn55Bi45 powders with different particle size were obtained by low-energy ball milling (LEBM) with and without added surfactant. The coercivity is enhanced in both cases. Microstructure characterization reveals that Mn55Bi45 powders obtained by surfactant assisted low-energy ball milling (SALEBM) have better particle size uniformity and show higher decomposition of LTP MnBi. Coercivity can achieve a value of 17.2 kOe and the saturation magnetization (Ms) is 16 emu/g when Mn55Bi45 powders milled about 10 h by SALEBM. Coercivity has achieved a maximum value of 18.2 kOe at room temperature, and 23.5 kOe at 380 K after 14 h of LEBM. Furthermore, Mn55Bi45 powders obtained by LEBM have better magnetic properties.