MFM of nanocrystalline NdFeB: a study of the effect of processing route on the micromagnetic structure

The magnetic domain structure of near stoichiometric (Nd 11.8Fe 82.3B 5.9) nanocrystalline alloy ribbon has been examined using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) as a function of processing conditions. Amorphous structured ribbons of Nd 2Fe 14B with an average thickness of 25 μm were produced by chill block melt-spinning. Subsequently, samples were heat treated at 600°C for 4 min to produce a nanocrystalline structure consisting of Nd 2Fe 14B grains of average size ∼35 nm. These were compared to ribbons of the same composition, but melt spun directly to the nanocrystalline state, also with an average grain size of ∼35 nm. MFM imaging was undertaken using CoCr, NiFe and Fe/SiO 2 coated pyramidal Si tips. The as-cast amorphous ribbons exhibited weak magnetic contrast with a correlation length of 130±20 nm, but with a small elongation in one direction, as shown by Fourier transforms of the MFM images. Nanocrystalline samples produced by devitrification exhibited longer correlation lengths of 1000±50 nm and with a stronger angular component to the Fourier transform. The application of a 5 T field to the nanophase sample in a direction normal to the sample plane resulted in a reduction of the correlation length to 600±50 nm and a reduction in the directionality of the magnetic contrast. However, the application of a 5 T field in the plane of the ribbon resulted in an elongation of the contrast in a direction parallel to the applied field, irrespective of the in-plane field direction. In contrast, ribbon melt spun directly to a nanocrystalline structure exhibited a uniform Fourier transform both in the as-cast and remanent states. The length scale of dominant magnetic structure was 350±30 nm for the as-cast and 620±30 nm for the remanent state. Within the dominant magnetic structure, a finer structure was apparent, of a scale comparable to the grain size.