On spinodal decomposition in alnico - A transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography study

Lin Zhou, Wei Guo, J. D. Poplawsky, Liqin Ke, Wei Tang, I. E. Anderson, M. J. Kramer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Alnico is a prime example of a finely tuned nanostructure whose magnetic properties are intimately connected to magnetic annealing (MA) during spinodal transformation and subsequent lower temperature annealing (draw) cycles. Using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, we show how these critical processing steps affect the local composition and nanostructure evolution with impact on magnetic properties. The nearly 2-fold increase of intrinsic coercivity (Hci) during the draw cycle is not adequately explained by chemical refinement of the spinodal phases. Instead, increased Fe-Co phase (α1) isolation, development of Cu-rich spheres/rods/blades and additional α1 rod precipitation that occurs during the MA and draw, likely play a key role in Hci enhancement. Chemical ordering of the Al-Ni-phase (α2) and formation of Ni-rich (α3) may also contribute. Unraveling of the subtle effect of these nano-scaled features is crucial to understanding on how to improve shape anisotropy in alnico magnets.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15-22
Number of pages8
JournalActa Materialia
Volume153
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2018

Funding

This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ). Research was supported by U.S. DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under its Vehicle Technologies Office, Electric Drive Technology Program, through the Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University under contract DE-AC02-07CH11358. APT rwas conducted at ORNL's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility. Research was supported by U.S. DOE , Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) , under its Vehicle Technologies Office , Electric Drive Technology Program , through the Ames Laboratory , Iowa State University under contract DE-AC02-07CH11358 . APT rwas conducted at ORNL's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility.

Keywords

  • Atom-probe tomography
  • Magnetic
  • Microstructure
  • STEM HAADF
  • Spinodal decomposition
  • TEM

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