Abstract The magnetic properties of commercial 2∶17–type SmCo magnet is low at high temperature, despite good properties at room temperature and its application temperature is usually lower than 300 ℃. In recent years, significant progress has been made on the development of SmCo permanent magnets for high temperature applications. Despite the maximum operating temperature being up to 500 ℃, the magnets were found to have low magnetic properties at room temperature and 350 ℃. Thus, there has been a demand for developing permanent magnet materials with high properties at moderate temperatures below 350 ℃. The effect of Fe and Cu contents on the magnetic properties of Sm(CobalFexCuyZr0.03)7.5 (x=0.16—0.28, y=0.06, 0.08) magnets at room temperature and 350 ℃ have been systematically studied. The results show that with increasing Fe content, the intrinsic coercivity iHc gradually increases, reaching an optimal value of 2473 kA/m, and then drops rapidly at room temperature; the remanence Br rises monotonically with increasing Fe content. The intrinsic coercivity iHc increases with raising Cu at a constant Fe content. The absolute value of temperature coefficient of coercivity |β| rises monotonically with increasing Fe content, and decreases with increasing Cu content. Sm(CobalFe0.20Cu0.08Zr0.03)7.5 alloy is expected for potential applications at moderate temperatures below 350 ℃.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51071010), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No.2010AA03A401), Aviation Foundation of China (No.2009ZF51063) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities