Fine-grained NdFeB magnets prepared by low temperature pre-sintering and subsequent hot pressing*

Fine-grained Nd10.79Pr2.8Al0.4B7.72Fe78.29 magnets were prepared by low temperature pre-sintering and subsequent hot pressing. The grain size of the magnets is just about 1–3 μm because the low sintering temperature results in no grain growth. The orientation degree, microstructure, and magnetic properties were studied. Some grains' easy axes deviate from the orientation direction, possibly due to grain rotation during the hot pressing. By subsequent annealing, the magnetic properties were significantly enhanced. Especially, the squareness of the demagnetization curve was improved greatly. The enhancement of coercivity by annealing can be explained by an improvement of both grain boundaries and magnetic isolation, which decouples the exchange interaction between neighboring grains.