Evolution of texture and magnetic properties in NdPrFeB based nanocomposite magnets with plastic deformation

Nanocomposite magnets consisting of various nanoscale hard and soft phases are potentially the next generation permanent magnets. Textured microstructure of hard phases is one of the necessary conditions for the predicted high magnetic energy product. Hot deformation is an effective method to produce conventional anisotropic Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnets, in which the Nd-rich phase plays an important role for texture formation. However, it turns out to be a challenge to apply this method to produce Nd-lean nanocomposite magnets due to the absence of Nd-rich phase. In this work, a height reduction rate up to 90% was carried out in order to investigate the evolution of texture and magnetic property with plastic deformation in NdPrFeB based nanocomposite magnets. It shows that the degree of deformation is a key factor for texture formation in hot-deformed (HD) rare earth-lean nanocomposite magnets.