Abstract
The alignment of anisotropic magnetic particles, each of which has its own easy axis for magnetization, gives a great influence on the magnetic performance of permanent magnet. To investigate the movement and rotation of the particles during compaction in an applied magnetic field, we simulate the microscopic behaviour by particle dynamics calculation with a non-spherical axi-symmetric particle model. We also carry out experiments on compaction of Nd-Fe-B magnetic powders in an applied magnetic field. Lateral pressures appear to change by the application of magnetic field, while there is very little change in compacting pressure. The changes in the pressures are due to the Maxwell stress and also to the anisotropics structure induced by the magnetic field; the latter appears to be larger than the former. The results of compacting pressures are in a qualitative agreement with experimental ones, and the alignment of the easy axes is significantly influenced by the application of magnetic field.
