Purification of rare-earth metals as the approach to improving properties of hard magnetic Nd2Fe14B-based materials

Abstract

Purification of rare-earth metals, namely, Nd, Pr, Tb, Dy used in manufacturing Nd2Fe14B-based magnets was realized. The metals were purified by vacuum distillation/sublimation. Conditions of the process were optimized and the structure of distilled metals was studied. Distilled terbium and dysprosium were used to prepare hydrides TbH2 and DyH2. Peculiarities of the decomposition of terbium and dysprosium hydrides were studied with the view of the use of the compounds as efficient additions, which allow the high- coercivity state of sintered magnets to be formed. Terbium hydride additions (to 4 wt %) favor the marked increase in the magnetization coercive force without excessive attenuation of the remanence (j H c = 1940 kA/m, (BH max) = 292 kJ/m3). Dysprosium hydride additions increase the stability of high-coercivity state (j H c = 1310 kA/m, (BH max) = 322 kJ/m3 at 2 wt% DyH2).