Influence of exchange coupling interaction on coercivity in 2:17-type SmCo-based high temperature permanent magnets

The intergranular exchange coupling interaction in Sm(Co_balFe_0.10Cu_0.10Zr_0.03)_7.2 high temperature permanent magnets with different isothermal aging time was studied. The magnet isothermally aging for 24 h with higher coercivity at room temperature exhibits a weaker exchange coupling, while that aging for 4 h with a relatively small temperature coefficient of coercivity shows a stronger exchange coupling. Microstructure and microchemistry analysis indicated that Cu gradually enriches in the cell boundaries with the prolongation of isothermal aging time, decreasing the exchange coupling strength. Theoretical analysis results revealed that with the increase of temperature, the cells gradually get exchange decoupled and demagnetized independently, and the exchange coupling strength between cells decreases, which slows down the decline of coercivity. It is proposed that an optimized temperature coefficient of coercivity requires a stronger exchange coupling at room temperature, conducing to a more significant compensation effect with the increase of temperature.