Working towards developing optimum milling process parameters for samarium cobalt magnet materials

This work was conducted to optimize the processing parameters for an Attritor ball mill used in the production of rare earth samarium cobalt magnets. The production of powder metallurgy rare-earth permanent magnets requires the Sm-Co particles to contain only single domains in order to achieve the maximum coercivity of the magnets. The Attritor ball mill uses both impact action and shearing forces for efficient fine grinding. To achieve a tight particle size distribution, four different variables associated with the milling process were studied, such as milling time, revolution per minute (RPM), steel ball media diameter, and liquid media volume as it affects the slurry constant.