Tailoring of the magnetic properties of SmCo\u3csub\u3e5\u3c/sub\u3e:Nb\u3csub\u3e0.33\u3c/sub\u3eCr\u3csub\u3e0.67\u3c/sub\u3e nanocomposites using mechanical alloying

Nanocomposite structures composed of ferromagnetic particles dispersed in a matrix are systems in which the magnetic properties can be tailored by varying the size and spacing of the ferromagnetic particles. Nanocomposites of SmCo5 in a non-magnetic Nb0.33Cr0.67 matrix exhibit a wide variety of magnetic properties. SmCo5 powder is premilled prior to mechanical alloying. The premilliing results in a maximum coercivity of 16 kOe after 2 hours of milling, and an enhanced remanence ratio. Both features may be due to exchange anisotropy and/or exchange coupling between hard and soft ferromagnetic phases. The nanocomposite samples show that, when the SmCo5 particulates are small enough, the primary effect of alloying is to disperse them throughout the matrix with no further refinement of size