Magnetization and XRD Studies of Laser Heat Treated SmCo₅ Powders

Abstract

The microstructure and magnetization of SmCo5 micro-particles may be used as feedstock for 3D printing to make miniature strong magnets. Thus, the magnetic response and microstructures of commercially available SmCo5 micro-particles were studied under various heat treatments using a high wattage laser. The magnetization of laser heat treated powders at 50-watt showed an increase in magnetization, while the 75-watt melt showed a little to no change. Unfortunately, the coercivity of both laser heat treated samples decreased significantly. Oxidation during the heat treatment is suspected to result in low coercivity. Purging with argon-gas prior to laser heating showed improved coercivity. To further minimize the oxidation problem a set of SmCo5 powder was reduced prior to laser heat treatment using a constant flow of hydrogen gas while being heated at various temperatures from 100 oC to 400 oC for a period of ~4 hours. The results show that the magnetization generally increases with the temperature, while the coercivity decreases significantly. Another set of SmCo5 was annealed in a vacuum furnace for one hour at temperatures between 200 oC and 400 oC in order to confirm that no hydride phases were formed during reduction. The magnetization and coercivity showed similar variations with annealing temperature to those for the reduced powders confirming that these variations may be due to change in crystal structure rather than formation of hydrides. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) studies were performed to identify the changes in crystal phases.