Preparation and Magnetic Properties of MnBi Alloy and its Hybridization with NdFeB

MnBi alloys were fabricated by arc melting and annealing at 573 K. The heat treatment enhanced the content of the low-temperature phase (LTP) of MnBi up to 83 wt%. The Bi-excess assisted LTP MnBi alloys were used in the hybridization with the Nd-Fe-B commercial Magnequench ribbons to form the hybrid magnets (100-x)NdFeB/xMnBi, x = 20, 30, 40, 50, and 80 wt%. The as-milled powder mixtures of Nd-Fe-B and MnBi were aligned in a magnetic field of 18 kOe and warm-compacted to anisotropic and dense bulk magnets at 573 K by 2,000 psi for 10 min. The magnetic ordering of two hard phase components strengthened by the exchange coupling enhanced the Curie temperature ($T_c$) of the magnet in comparison to that of the powder mixture sample. The prepared hybrid magnets were highly anisotropic with the ratio $M_r/M_s$ > 0.8. The exchange coupling was high, and the coercivity $_iH_c$ of the magnets was ~11-13 kOe. The maximum value of the energy product $(BH)_{max}$ was 8.4 MGOe for the magnet with x = 30%. The preparation of MnBi alloys and hybrid magnets are discussed in details.