Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Coated SmCo5/Fe Magnetic Nanocomposites Processed by Magnetic Field-Assisted Ball Milling

Nanostructured anisotropic hard magnetic particles of SmCo5/Fe coated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by magnetic field-assisted ball milling technique. The MWNT-coated SmCo5/Fe powders so obtained by this method exhibit interesting features such as flake-like morphology, reduction in particle size, anisotropy and high coercivity. The MWNT-coated SmCo5/Fe powders were further processed in the form of polymer nanocomposites under aligning magnetic field and were characterized for their structural and magnetic properties. TEM analysis reveals the uniform coating of MWNTs in the form of disordered/amorphous carbon on the milled SmCo5/Fe powder particles. Magnetic measurements suggest that the addition of MWNTs with SmCo5/Fe brings new capabilities for the nanocomposite magnets in terms of higher coercivity (H-c = 12.6 kOe), strong magnetic texture (M-r/M-max = 0.82) and percolation of SmCo5/Fe particles within the epoxy matrix.