Magnetic properties of MnBi bulk magnets with NaCl and C addition

Abstract

Nonmagnetic phase assisted low temperature phase MnBi bulk magnetic materials, i.e., MnBi/NaCl and MnBi/C magnets, were fabricated by hot pressing mixtures of MnBi and NaCl or C powders. The effects of nonmagnetic NaCl or C on the magnetic and physical properties of the MnBi bulks were investigated in detail. Identifications of phase stability and decomposition rate during the mixing and hot pressing processes were analyzed using the Rietveld refinement method. It was found that the coercivities (Hc) of the bulk magnets significantly increase with increasing content of NaCl or C: Hc of the MnBi bulks with NaCl of 5 wt. % and C of 5 wt. % reach 9041 Oe and 7054 Oe, respectively, which are higher than the pure MnBi bulk of 6272 Oe. This means that the addition of a small amount of NaCl and C in the MnBi bulks could be one of the promising routes to enhance their magnetic properties.