Microchemistry and microstructure of SmCo 2:17 permanent magnets with Ni, Pr, and Ti substitutions

This work is to study the element distribution and microstructure of Sm-Co 2:17 permanent magnets with Ni, Pr, and Ti substitution using TEM/STEM and nanoprobe EDS techniques. Pr substituting for Sm does not affect the microstructure but can prompt the diffusion of Cu into cell walls. Ti is almost uniformly distributed in the cellular structure and does not change the elemental distribution. High solubility of Ti in 2:17 cells may restrain the formation of the lamellar phases in the Ti-substituted sample. Ni substitution for Cu leads to the formation of inhomogeneous cellular-like structure. Ni is found to be concentrated in the cell boundary phases in highly Ni-substituted samples.