환원/확산 공정에 의한 고성능 Nd-Fe-B 자성분말의 제조 = Preparation of Highly Efficient Nd-Fe-B Magnetic Powders by Reduction/Diffusion Process

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

A novel route to prepare Nd-Fe-B magnetic particles by utilizing both spray drying and reduction/diffusion processes was investigated in this study. Precursors were prepared by spray drying method using the aqueous solutions containing Nd salt, Fe salt and boric acid with stoichiometric ratios. Precursor particles could be obtained with various sizes from 2 to $10{\mu}m$ by controlling concentrations of the solutions and the average size of $2{\mu}m$ of precursors were selected for further steps. After heat treatment of precursors in air, Nd and Fe oxides were formed through desalting procedure, followed by reduction processes in Hydrogen ($H_2$) atmosphere and with Calcium (Ca) granules in Argon (Ar) successively. Moreover, diffusion between Nd and Fe occurred during Ca reduction and $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ particles were formed. With Ca amount added to particles after $H_2$ reduction, intrinsic coercivity was changed from 1 to 10 kOe. In order to remove and leach CaO and residual Ca, de-ionized water and dilute acid were used. Acidic solutions were more effective to eliminate impurities, but Fe and Nd were dissolved out from the particles. Finally, $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ magnetic particles were synthesized after washing in de-ionized water with a mean size of $2{\mu}m$ and their maximum energy product showed 9.23 MGOe.