Alignment and Angular Dependences of Coercivity for (Sm, Ce) 2 (Co, Fe, Cu, Zr) 17 Magnets

The alignment and angular dependences of the coercivity of (Sm, Ce)2(Co, Fe, Cu, Zr)17 magnets were investigated. The coercivity of an aligned magnet is slightly larger than that of the isotropically aligned magnet. This result differs from those of Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets and ferrite magnets. In regard to the angular dependence, the coercivity of (Sm, Ce)2(Co, Fe, Cu, Zr)17 magnets decreases from 0° to 40° and increases thereafter. The trend is similar to that observed in Ga-doped Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets and ferrite magnets and reproduces those expected from a Stoner–Wohlfarth model or a coherent rotation of magnetization, even though the magnetization reversals for these magnets proceed through the motion of magnetic domain walls. The angular dependence of the coercivity of isotropically aligned magnets agrees well with the calculation results for angles up to 50° obtained under the assumption that the magnetization of every grain reverses independently through the motion of magnetic domain walls. These results support strongly the conclusion that the coercivity of Ga-doped Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets and ferrite magnets, both which have an angular dependence similar to (Sm, Ce)2(Co, Fe, Cu, Zr)17 magnets, is determined by the motion of magnetic domain walls.