Structure and magnetic properties of Sm2Fe17Nx sintering magnets prepared by spark plasma sintering

Bulk Sm2Fe17Nx sintering magnet was fabricated by spark plasma sintering(SPS) technique. The effects of sintering pressure and sintering temperature on the magnetic properties of the Sm2Fe17Nx magnet were investigated. As a result, the density of the magnet is obviously improved with the increase of sintering pressure, but the coercivity drops since Sm2Fe17Nx has decomposed into SmN, alpha-Fe and N-2. When sintering temperature was only above 200 degrees C under 1 GPa sintering pressure, the coercivity even begins to decrease, which indicates that high pressure promotes the decomposition of the Sm2Fe17Nx at lower temperature. The decomposition is also proved by the decrease of nitrogen and increase of alpha-Fe in the magnets.