Substitution of Nd with other rare earth elements in melt spun Nd2Fe14B magnets

Abstract

This is a contemporary study of rapidly quenched Nd1.6X0.4Fe14B magnetic materials (where X= Nd, Y, Ce, La, Pr, Gd and Ho). A 20% substitution of the Nd component from Nd2Fe14B can bring about some commercial advantage. However, there will be some compromise to the magnetic performance. Light rare earth elements are definitely more abundant (Y, Ce, La) than the heavier rare earth elements, but when they are included in RE2Fe14B magnets they tend to lower magnetic performance and thermal stability. Substituting heavy rare earth elements (Gd, Ho) for Nd in Nd2Fe14B improves the thermal stability of magnets but causes a loss in magnet remanence.