Rapidly solidified Sm-Co-Hf-B magnetic Nano-composites: Experimental and DFT studies

[Display omitted] •Hf addition stabilizes the 1:7H phase.•Grain refinement is achieved by B addition.•The maximum coercivity (Hc) of the ribbons is achieved at Hf ≃ 3 at.%.•The remanent magnetization increases with increasing B content.•Experimental observations are in conformity with our theoretical calculations. The effect of Hf and B additions on the phase stability, microstructure and magnetic properties of the metastable SmCo7 (1:7H) ribbons has been investigated with a combined approach of experimental measurements and first principle DFT (density functional theory) calculations. A series of (Sm0.12Co0.88)95Hf5−xBx (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) alloys were arc-melted in a TIG (tungsten inert gas) arc melting furnace, followed by melt-spinning onto a copper roller at a wheel velocity of 40 m/s. Characterization based on X-ray diffraction indicates that the major phase is SmCo7 having meta-stable (TbCu7-type) structure. From the total energy calculations using DFT, the phase stability of (Sm0.12Co0.88)95Hf5−xBx ribbons have been confirmed. Moreover, Hf and B addition results in an effective grain refinement; average grain size being as low as ~ 80 nm. The reduction in grain size leads to significant changes (increase or decrease) in magnetic properties depending on the Hf/B ratio. The coercivity value (Hc) varies between 7 kOe and 12 kOe as x (at.% B) increases from 0 to 5 at.%. The experimental coercivity values have been compared with the computed anisotropy energies. The saturation magnetization (Ms) increases from ~ 54 emu/g to 77 emu/g with increasing B concentration (x).