PRODUCTION OF RARE EARTH-TRANSITION METAL-NITROGEN-BASED ALLOY POWDER

PURPOSE:To conduct crushing and nitriding at the same time and to economi cally and efficiently produce a rare earth-transition metal-nitrogen-based alloy excellent in magnetic characteristic and corrosion resistance by crushing a rare earth-transition metal-nitrogen-based alloy in a nitrogen atmosphere. CONSTITUTION:An alloy consisting of a rare-earth element such as Nd, Sm, Dy and Y and a transition metal such as Fe, Ni and Co is produced by a high- frequency furnace and an arc furnace, and the alloy is annealed, as required. The alloy is roughly crushed, placed in a ball mill filled with stainless-steel balls and pulverized in the mill contg. a nitrogen gas atmosphere. The pulverized alloy is simultaneously nitrided at this time, and an alloy powder for the magnet excellent in corrosion resistance and magnetic characteristic is produced.