Amorphization, nanocrystallization and magnetic properties of mechanically milled Sm–Co magnetic powders

Abstract The microstructure and the magnetic properties of mechanically milled Sm–Co nano powders were investigated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Microstructural studies revealed that after 40 h milling the powder nearly becomes amorphous with a small fraction of nanocrystallites embedded in the amorphous matrix. With increase in milling time up to 16 h, the diffracted crystallite size decreased exponentially and thereafter it remained constant. The grain size of 40 h milled powder was found to be ∼2 – 10 nm.