Effect of Zr Addition on the Magnetization Reversal Behavior for α-Fe/Pr2Fe14B Nanocomposite Alloys

The microstructure and magnetic properties of the Zr-doped α-Fe/Pr2Fe14B nanocomposite magnets prepared by melt-spinning method have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements. The magnetization reversal behavior during the recoil processes of nanocomposite alloys has been investigated by analyzing the hysteresis curves and recoil loops of demagnetization curves. An enhanced magnetic properties has been obtained by the addition of 1 at. % Zr in α-Fe/Pr2Fe14B alloys, where the coercivity Hc increases from 470.7 to 793.2 kA/m, the maximum energy product (BH)max from 66.8 to 90.8 kJ/m3, the remanence ratio Mr/Ms from 0.74 to 0.77. The recoil loop results show that the maximum value of the integrated recoil loop area for 1 at. % Zr doped sample is quietly low of 1.87×10-3, only 1/2 for the Zr-free and 1/3 for 5 at. % Zr doped samples respectively. This result indicates that the 1 at. % Zr doped sample has a lower energy loss, resulting from a low recoverable portion of the magnetization remaining as long as the applied reversal field is below the coercivity Hc. This study provides a promising guideline for the future fabrication of low-energy-loss nanocomposite magnets for electric machines and generators.