Corrosion Resistance Analysis of Sintered NdFeB Magnets Using Ultrasonic-Aided EDM Method

Sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets are widely used in many fields because of their excellent magnetic property. However, their poor corrosion resistance has been cited as a potential problem that limits their extensive application. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the improvement of surface corrosion resistance with the ultrasonic-aided electrical discharge machining (U-EDM) method. A scanning electron microscope was used to analyze the surface morphology of recast layers formed through the EDM and U-EDM processes. The chemical structure and elements of these recast layers were characterized using x-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Corrosion resistance was also studied by means of potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and immersion tests in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 solution. Experimental results show that an amorphous structure was formed in the recast layer during the EDM and U-EDM processes and that this structure could improve the corrosion resistance of sintered NdFeB magnets. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of U-EDM-treated surface was better than that of the EDM-treated surface.