Observations of domains and textures in R-Co magnet materials

The reflected light microscope with polarized light may be used to observe domain structures, grain orientations and textures in cast and sintered powder R-Co materials. Means for enhancing the optical contrast are described in a cast SmCo5-Sm2Co7binary alloy. The relative crystallographic orientation and precipitate shape in a cast SmCo5and Sm2Co17binary alloy is discussed. Finally, the observation of textures in sintered mischmetal-cobalt magnets is described, and the relationship between these observed textures and remanence in the magnet is illustrated.