Enhancement of anisotropy energy of SmCo(5) by ceasing the coupling at 2c sites in the crystal lattice with Cu substitution

SmCo(5) and SmCo(5−x)Cu(x) magnetic particles were produced by co-precipitation followed by reduction diffusion. HRTEM confirmed the Cu substitution in the SmCo(5) lattice. Non-magnetic Cu was substituted at “2c” site in the SmCo(5) crystal lattice and effectively stopped the coupling in its surroundings. This decoupling effect decreased magnetic moment from SmCo(5) (12.86 μ(B)) to SmCo(4)Cu (10.58 μ(B)) and SmCo(3)Cu(2) (7.79 μ(B)) and enhanced anisotropy energy from SmCo(5) (10.87 Mega erg/cm(3)) to SmCo(4)Cu (14.05 Mega erg/cm(3)) and SmCo(3)Cu(2) (14.78 Mega erg/cm(3)). Enhancement of the anisotropy energy increased the coercivity as its values for SmCo(5), SmCo(4)Cu and SmCo(3)Cu(2) were recorded as 4.5, 5.97 and 6.99 kOe respectively. Being six times cheaper as compared to Co, substituted Cu reduced the price of SmCo(3)Cu(2) up to 2%. Extra 15% Co was added which not only enhanced the M(r) value but also reduced the 5% of the total cost because of additional weight added to the SmCo(3)Cu(2). Method reported in this work is most energy efficient method on the synthesis of Sm–Co–Cu ternary alloys until now.