Structure and magnetic characterization of amorphous and crystalline Nd-Fe-Al alloys

Glass formation has been studied in Nd₆₀Fe₃₀Al₁₀ alloy produced by melt-spinning, water quenching and copper mold chill casting. Partially amorphous alloys were obtained by melt-spinning at low wheel speeds of 5 to 15 m/s and by water quenching of a 1-mm diameter rod, while fully amorphous alloys were obtained by melt-spinning at higher wheel speeds of 20 and 30 m/s and chill casting of a 1-mm diameter rod. A high coercivity was observed in the partially amorphous ribbon melt-spun at 5 m/s and water quenched rod, and in the fully amorphous chill cast rod, while low values of coercivity were obtained in fully amorphous ribbons melt-spun at high speeds of 20 and 30 m/s. Crystallization of water quenched and chill cast samples after heat treatment at high temperature resulted in a substantial reduction of the high coercivity. Results of X-ray diffraction indicate that formation of Nd and a ternary Fe-Nd-Al phase with an unknown crystal structure were present after crystallization. TEM results and a magnetic study of the heat treated samples indicate that as long as there is an amorphous phase produced by low cooling rate, the high coercivity remains. The high coercivity of bulk amorphous samples is discussed. The unknown ternary Fe-Nd-Al phase is antiferromagnetic with a Neel temperature at about 260 K.