Abstract
This study is to investigate the stress distributions, crystal orientations and magnetic properties during die-upsetting according to working temperature of Nd-Fe-B-Cu alloys. The stress distributions in the specimens during compressing process were calculated by a finite element method program(SPID). The calculated stresses were effective stress (${\sigma}_{eff}$), compression stress(${\sigma}_z$), radial direction stress(${\sigma}_r$) rotational direction stress(${\sigma}_e$) and shear stress(${\tau}_{rz}$). The stress distributions of ${\sigma}_z$, obtained by a computer simulation showed that the stress components causing the magnetic alignment during die-upsetting of the cast magnets were very high at the center-part of a specimen, and decreased toward the periphery-part of a specimen. In view of the above results the magnetic properties should be better at the center-part of a specimen than any other parts. But the measured magnetic properties were better at the mid-part. These results should be due to the fact that the specimens were casted. Normally the magnetic properties are affected by the casting process as well as by the stress levels. ${\sigma}_r$, ${\sigma}_e$ are thought to affect the liquid phase flowing and domain patterns, respectively. The influence of ${\tau}_{rz}$ was trivial, ${\sigma}_{eff}$ distributed similar throughout the specimen. The Nd-rich phase appeared at the peripheral of the specimen where the stress level of ${\sigma}_r$, ${\sigma}_z$, was low or the stress level of ${\sigma}_e$ was high. The Nd-rich phase was squeezed out during die-upsetting. This phase had an effect on the crystal orientation and grain growth. The stress distributions of alloy were irregular at the parts of the specimen where the die contacted with specimen.